ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies a spatial dissimilarity – disconnect between how regions are statistically conceptualized, and often studied, and how space is actually organized and governed. It explores the degree of this spatial dissimilarity between Regional Intergovernmental Organizations (RIGOs) and Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) but the magnitude of difference is perhaps most starkly demonstrated visually. Where research explores differences in spatial outcomes that might be the product of regional policies reliance on the MSA may be misleading. The study of spatial relationships between RIGOs and MSAs by thinking about them in the most basic way – as pairs – in order to equip ourselves with the conceptual building blocks to understand the more complex regional relationships that we observe in practice. The role of racial, socioeconomic and other schisms rooted in place in the definition of RIGO structures and resulting policies can be easily overlooked using MSAs as a sole frame of reference.
