Subject(s): Metropolitan government in United States, Case studies. -- Alternative explanations for the adoption of city-country consolidation in Florida -- Unification of Athens and Clarke -- City-parish consolidate government, Louisiana -- Citizen-led politics and city-city consolidation -- Consolidation attempt without power deflation -- Financial crisis, racial accommodation -- City-county consolidation for Wilmington and new Hanover -- Predictable failure -- Reforming politics through reorganization -- Local government -- Decentralization