"The Myth of the North American City" Reconsidered: Local Constitutional Regimes in Canada and the United States

Urban political economists observe that growth seeking dominates Canadian and U.S. local governance. Others believe Canada's collectivist culture exempts cities from the privatistic policies common in the United States. The authors argue that local constitutional regimes (the legal definition o...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Urban Affairs Quarterly 1996-05, Vol.31 (5), p.595-624
Main Authors: Garber, Judith A., Imbroscio, David L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Area planning & development
CANADA
Cities
Comparison
Constitution
CONSTITUTIONS
Development policy
FEDERALISM
Governance
GROWTH (ALL TYPES)
LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Patterns
POLITICAL ECONOMY
Politics
PROVINCE AND PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT
U.S.A
United States
UNITED STATES, 1945 TO PRESENT
Urban areas
Urban development
Urban sprawl
URBAN, IN ANY CONTEXT
USA
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Summary:Urban political economists observe that growth seeking dominates Canadian and U.S. local governance. Others believe Canada's collectivist culture exempts cities from the privatistic policies common in the United States. The authors argue that local constitutional regimes (the legal definition of cities, rules about private property, and federalism) best explain patterns of governance. Inducements shape urban development policy in both countries, but U.S. cities generally compete independently for growth, whereas provinces more often direct Canadian urban growth strategies. Provinces may reduce interlocal competition, but they may also move the locus of urban growth politics upward or stifle progressive initiatives.
ISSN:1078-0874
0042-0816
1552-8332
DOI:10.1177/107808749603100502