A typology of the fragmentation of local institutions in European urban areas

Local institutional fragmentation (communes, districts, etc.) is a central parameter of governance systems in urban regions. The literature establishes its influence on patterns of governance and on the development of urban regions, but empirical research remains incomplete, particularly with regard to European urban regions in Europe.
In this context, our research aims to characterize their local institutional fragmentation. Based on the analysis of 257 urban areas of more than 300.000 inhabitants, we developed a typology based on 11 fragmentation indicators. We have used the most recent developments in the European statistical system to develop an original database.
This research contributes to the understanding of governance processes and demonstrates the strong heterogeneity of institutional fragmentation contexts in urban regions. This variability is partly dependent on national contexts, demonstrating the weak convergence of governance situations despite European integration. However, this heterogeneity is also subnational, demonstrating the importance of local contexts in the production of territorial appropriation systems. These results can be used for comparative analyses.
The statistical analysis of fragmentation indicators and their links with territorial indicators demonstrates the existence of relationships between territorial characteristics and institutional fragmentation. However, these results nuance the scientific results obtained in the North American context, and in particular the existence of relationships between, on the one hand, economic and demographic development and, on the other, local institutional fragmentation.