Practical prescriptions for governing fragmented governments

Abstract

This chapter elaborates the Institutional Collective Action (ICA) framework, which has emerged as an analytical lens for understanding collaboration in fragmented governance. It reviews how ICA dilemmas or situations in which an authority's incentives do not align with collectively desired outcomes, arise from spillovers of policy choice and design that transcend jurisdictions. It also talks about ICA dilemmas that stem from fragmentation and lead to inefficient behaviour, such as free riding and service duplication. The chapter extracts practical lessons and theoretical propositions from ICA research that is focused on fragmented arenas, such as watershed management, environmental policy, emergency management and economic development. It mentions that policymakers can reduce collaboration risk and uncertainty with multiple strategies that can facilitate the adoption of more self-organized integrative mechanisms.