Can Cooperation Be Mandated? Implementing Intergovernmental Environmental Management in New South Wales and New Zealand

Various forces have led to new thinking about approaches to intergovernmental regulation, emphasizing a shift from the heavy hand of coercive mandates to more cooperative approaches. This research examines the implementation of cooperative policies addressing aspects of environmental management in New South Wales, Australia, and in New Zealand. Analyses are undertaken of the cooperative policy designs, government agencies' implementation efforts and styles, and local government officials' perceptions of intergovernmental cooperation. Bringing about intergovernmental cooperation is not automatic, nor does it appear to be easy. An empirical modeling shows that high levels of agency commitment and capacity are required in order to foster facilitative implementation styles. The design of policy mandates is important in signaling cooperative desires and structuring implementation to foster appropriate agency implementation styles.