My research investigates the creation, evolution and policy consequences of local governance arrangements through six ongoing projects: The Regional Governance Project focuses on institutional collective action (ICA) and the formation, evolution, and performance of self-organizing collaboration in metropolitan areas. Current research employs social network analysis to model the formation of informal policy networks, interlocal agreements, regional districts, and regional partnership organizations as solutions to ICA problems. The Growth Management & Land Use Regulation Project develops a "political market" framework combining elements of political economy and property rights theories with work on local government structure. Current work includes surveys of city and county planning officials and a study of amendments to local land use plans. The Economic Development Project focuses on the roles of institutions, bargaining, and networks on economic development policy choices. Current research investigates development organization and policy choices, incentives, and collaborative joint ventures. The Boundary Project is focused on empirically testing explanations for boundary change based on collective action theory. Current research examines how institutions, incentives, and entrepreneurs influence annexation, municipal incorporation, charter schools, homeowner associations, special districts, and city county consolidations. The Local Institutions Project investigates the causes and consequences of local institutional change. Current work includes surveys of mayors and city managers motivations and career incentives, a study of the policy implications of turnover among local officials, and an investigation of how different forms of city and county government affect expenditure, taxation, and borrowing decisions. The Service Delivery Project is focused on empirically testing explanations for local service delivery arrangements based on theories of relational contracting and transaction costs. Current work examines the influence of political institutions and turnover on service delivery arrangement, interlocal service agreements, and the role on nonprofit organizations in delivering local services.