This research investigates why various mechanisms of cooperation among local authorities are chosen using the theoretical lens of institutional collective action ( ICA ). The article analyzes 564 local collaboration agreements drawn from four urban regions of China to explain the choices of environmental collaboration agreements among cities. Examples of three forms of interlocal agreements-informal, formal, and imposed agreements-are analyzed. Ordinal logistic regressions are estimated to test which factors predicted by the ICA framework influence the form of collaboration selected. The results indicate that the involvement of national or provincial government, the number of policy actors involved, heterogeneity of economic conditions, and differences in administrative level among the actors involved influence how collaboration agreements are structured. Examining the choice of agreement type contributes to the understanding of interlocal collaboration and provides practical insights for public managers to structure interlocal collaboration. Evidence for Practice• Informal, formal, and imposed agreements are available to public managers seeking to address regional problems. • Local managers should be attentive to local economic conditions and characteristics of policy actors in choosing specific types of agreements. • The number of policy actors involved is an important consideration in deciding on agreement type.

China’s provincial governments increasingly participate in interprovincial agreements (IPAs) to address regional policy problems. Nevertheless, limited research investigates the determinants of a province’s propensity to engage in bilateral agreements with another province. This article uses network data and employs network regressions to investigate this question in the context of China’s Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD) regional network governance. We assess the factors that influence participation of bilateral IPAs among PPRD members. Our findings provide evidence that interprovincial participation in bilateral agreements spanning seven policy domains is driven by geographic proximity, economic and political statuses, institutional similarity, and cross-province leadership posting.

This study focuses on regional networks of interprovincial agreements (IPAs) emerged at China’s Pan Pearl River Delta (PPRD). Coparticipation of eleven PPRD members in 192 IPAs is investigated. It examines the extent to which coparticipation in the seven policy areas by the PPRD members are correlated. It measures density, the degree to which PPRD members coparticipate in IPAs. Although regional economic development was the initial focus, more IPA coparticipation has been devoted to addressing the noneconomic policy concerns. The results of the study are relevant for understanding the complex patterns of regional collaboration in which subnational governments participate.

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