Debates about risk in interlocal service contracts treat contracts as discrete dyadic exchanges. We challenge this notion by advancing a multiplex network contacting approach, which asserts that interlocal contracting represents a multiplex network phenomenon, defined as overlapping multiple service contract networks. Simultaneous treatment of multiple networks is required to understand how local governments mitigate contract risks. We claim that local governments create multiplex network structures comprising more than one service contract networks in order to reduce service contracting risks. Multivariate exponential random graph models were fit to joint high-risk and low or mixed-risk contract networks involving eight local government services in Pinellas County, Florida. The results demonstrate that local governments mitigate risk by creating multiplex reciprocity and multiplex network closure in contracts that involve multiple services.

中文翻译：

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走向本地服务承包的多重网络理论

关于本地间服务合同风险的争论将合同视为离散的二元交换。我们通过推进多重网络联系方法来挑战这一概念，该方法断言本地间签约代表了多重网络现象，定义为重叠多个服务合同网络。需要同时处理多个网络，以了解地方政府如何降低合同风险。我们声称地方政府创建了包含多个服务合同网络的多重网络结构，以降低服务合同风险。多变量指数随机图模型适用于涉及佛罗里达州皮内拉斯县八个地方政府服务的联合高风险和低风险或混合风险合同网络。