ABSTRACT
The theme of this book is an examination of the institutions governing the interactions among the three nations of North America and the implications for these interactions in the absence of strong institutional governance mechanisms. Our project looks at one very specific set of interactions—namely, the functioning of supply chains across the Canada-US border. Unfortunately, this has been an area of continuing managerial challenges where borders have thickened and, until recently, there has been little meaningful cooperation. This state of affairs represents a 180-degree shift in thinking about the Canada-US border and the importance of its smooth functioning to the economies of these two partners in what is still the largest bilateral trade relationship in the world. This change in perspective, especially on the part of US policy makers, can be viewed primarily as the result of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and continued threats of terrorism.
