莱克伍德市作为美国郊区自治型城市的典范,其最早提出的莱克伍德法案首开城市政府公共服务外包的先河。由其发展而来的“合同城市”模式是指将公共服务放入市场后,主体城市通过与赢得了竞争的市场主体之间签订合同来实行城市行政管理。该模式运用市场竞争,巧妙地降低了主体城市的服务成本,最大限度地维护了市民利益,同时也使参与竞争的市场主体受益。“合同城市”模式自诞生以来,不仅为美国地方城市管理带来了创新,同时也在很大程度上改变了美国的区域结构。正处于发展与改革阶段的中国城市,可因地制宜地学习借鉴“合同城市”模式的经验,规避其局限,从被动发展走向主动竞争。 As an example of a suburb autonomous city in the United States, Lakewood first proposed the first initiative of the city government’s public service outsourcing. The “contract city” model developed by it means that after the public service is put into the market, the main city implements the city administration by signing the contract with the market players who have won the competition. This model uses the market competition, subtly reduces the service cost of the main city, protects the public interest to the maximum extent, and at the same time benefits the market participants participating in the competition. Since its inception, the “Contract City” model has not only brought about innovation in the management of local cities in the United States, but has also largely changed the regional structure of the United States. The Chinese cities that are in the stage of development and reform can learn from the experience of “contract cities” model according to local conditions, avoid their limitations and go from passive development to active competition.