Local Cross-Border Economic Development Cooperation: Europe and North America in Comparative Perspective.

This study explores cross-border economic development administration in Western Europe and North America. Specifically, we compare local efforts to promote cross-border economic development in two European and one North American region: the Marches, Italy, Luxembourg’s “Grand-Region,” and Michigan’s border with Ontario, Canada. Interviews were conducted with local, regional and central government officials, as well as private sector actors, in the Italian region of the Marche and in the country of Luxembourg in March-April 2006. Stakeholder interviews with local and provincial/state officials are to be conducted during the summer of 2007. We address the following questions, among others: Is cross-border cooperation within regions more extensive as a result of supranational efforts such as the Interreg initiative? Is cross-border cooperation primarily driven by demands from central governments or do subnational governmental units promote this mode of international cooperation? To what extent do common political economies facilitate cross-border cooperation?Our preliminary findings suggest that in both the Marche and in Luxembourg and its “Grand-Region,” cross-border regional cooperation plays a secondary role to national political processes and preferences. Given these findings, we conclude that there may be limits to cross-border cooperation in certain political and institutional contexts. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]