A Behavioral Approach to the Study of Intergovernmental Relations

Abstract

The study of intergovernmental relationships re quires a systemic approach to phenomena involving the inter action of many large-scale organizations. The concept of an industry, borrowed from economics, is used to characterize a set of interrelated public enterprises which makes use of a com mon body of knowledge and methods in the production of similar goods or services. The disparity of interests within an industry is related to diversity in the organization of separate enterprises in a public industry. The problem of regulating the interrelationships among numerous public agencies functioning in a public industry is then considered. Study of the structure, conduct, and performance of different public industries which form a part of the American public enterprise system offers an approach to the systemic study of intergovernmental relation ships.