ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes a few of the major themes that arise from their work, provides some answers to the "Big Questions" about the future directions of intergovernmental relations (IGR) and intergovernmental management, and identifies areas for further research. The growth in the number of federal grant-in-aid programs, discretionary spending, regulatory federalism, and unfunded mandates have underscored that the intergovernmental power "tilt" has been in the direction of Washington, DC for many years. The intergovernmental pendulum might swing more in the direction of the states if the federal government's fiscal position becomes unsustainable or if the Trump administration and Congress succeed in "deconstructing the administrative state." Several contributors have noted that the deinstitutionalization of intergovernmental organizations has created a void in the understanding of IGR and in appreciation of the views of the partners in the federal system on policies and programs that transcend governmental and sectoral boundaries.
