Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book is about the governing of metropolitan regions in the United States. It reviews the financial system of state and local government at the broadest possible level—the national level. The book compares and contrasts variations in the design of metropolitan systems throughout the United States. It overviews the classic debate over how metropolitan areas in the United States ought to be organized. The book looks in detail at regional strategies that have been developed to govern the metropolitan areas of the United States. These strategies can be loosely bundled into what has commonly come to be known as "metropolitan regionalism." The book explores problems or issues that arise as a result of the structuring of government systems in metropolitan areas.