Rebirth of Local Government in Poland: 25 Years of Decentralization Reform

2016 ◽  
pp. 327-352
Author(s):  
Marcin Sakowicz
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Decentralization Reform

scholarly journals Identity in the conditions of the united communities

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 5-15
Author(s):  
Liana Zelenkevich
Keyword(s):  
Rural Communities ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Identity Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Interpersonal Relations ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
The Future ◽  
Model Of Management ◽  
Decentralization Reform ◽  
New Community

Based on the theoretical basis and empirical data, the article discusses from the sociological point of view the problem of identity development within the framework of the reform of local government, namely within the process of creating the united territorial communities.Understanding identity as a person’s property to feel belonging to a group, the author focuses on the issues of its change in rural communities that have joined the process of reforming local self-government.Based on the analysis of information on the first elections in the united communities of Zaporizhzhia and Lviv regions, a general social portrait of the current head of the united territorial community was developed.The author analyzes the recent results of community association and expressed the opinion that the structural process of construction of territorial units is characterized in general by the same regional trends, caused by more or less equivalent community consciousness of the entire rural population of the country.At the same time, there are differences in the results of the restructuring of power in different parts of the country, namely the spread of tendencies of ignorance and the opposition to decentralization in the West and the success of the restructuring of local authorities in the East of Ukraine.This is due, according to the author, to a greater degree of traditionalist identity in the western regions and an increase in the modern identity component in the eastern regions.Attention is drawn to the fact that decentralization, which is accompanied by the transformation of the boundaries of the rural community, raises problems of identity change.There is a problem of forming the perception of the new community of the united community as an ident for the rural man.It is revealed that decentralization in Ukraine, in particular the creation of united territorial communities, will have as a result of the destruction of the traditionalist identity of a person living in rural areas, the erosion of the communal content of interpersonal relations through the weakening of communal ties, which, in turn, the question of the future effectiveness of the system of local self-government, the mechanism of which is being built, since the essence of such a model of management is the collective solution of problems of local importance on the basis of a single identity .In this context, the author proposes to distinguish between the traditional community and the modernized community.The study focuses on the specific features of a modernized community, which, on the one hand, relate it in some respects to the urban community, and on the other hand, characterize it as a hybrid of the community and the urban community.At the same time, members of the united community will in the future form a new identity that is not inherited, but constructed on the basis of formal principles, rather than cultural attributes.The researcher concludes that it is problematic to achieve the goal of decentralization reform, which was declared by the authorities, to create a capable local government that will address all local issues and bear responsibility for it, because the community of unions as a means of transformation does not take into account the complexities of identity.

scholarly journals Decentralization of power: challenges for newly elected local governments

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (9) ◽  
pp. 24-28
Author(s):  
Olga IVANOVA ◽  
◽  
Yurij IVANOV ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Spatial Development ◽  
Financial Viability ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Legislative Support ◽  
Level Of Training ◽  
Decentralization Reform ◽  
Reallocation Of Resources

The article is devoted to topical issues of power decentralization and the development of local government. The aim of the research is to identify challenges for local governments in the implementation of the decentralization reform and to develop proposals for the spatial development of territorial communities. The problems of functioning and development of united territorial communities have been identified. These problems are differentiation of powers between levels of government; reallocation of resources; discrepancy between delegated powers and financial support of communities; low level of training for the implementation of the powers of local authorities. The directions for overcoming the challenges are suggested. These directions are legislative support for the reform of the decentralization of power; ensuring the financial viability of communities; reallocation of resources; development of mechanisms, criteria for the spatial development of territorial communities; development of programs for the development of personnel of local authorities and newly created communities capable of ensuring the development of territories.

scholarly journals Fiscal Decentralization Reform and its Impacts on Primary Education Service Delivery in Tanzania: the Case of Dodoma Municipal Council

2019 ◽  
pp. 30-48
Author(s):  
Paul Mtasigazya
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Primary Education ◽  
Fiscal Decentralization ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Municipal Council ◽  
Education Service ◽  
Decentralization Reform ◽  
Decentralization Reforms

This study is about fiscal decentralization reforms implemented in Local Government Authorities (LGAs) in Tanzania with special focus on Primary Education Service Delivery in Dodoma Municipal Council. The study investigated the question of poor performance of the municipal council in primary education service delivery despite the reforms undertaken to devolve the finances and functions to the council. It aimed to find out the extent and manner the fiscal decentralization has been implemented and its effects on the council’s performance on primary education service delivery. The study is based on data collected through interview and documentary review. It has been observed that despite to fiscal decentralization reforms, still there has been no significant improvement in quantitative and qualitative primary education service delivery in the council. This study further noted that the practice of fiscal decentralization such as intergovernmental fiscal transfer, (grants) and local government own sources of revenues are not adequate. The devolved funds also are characterized by conditional ties which undermine the autonomy and priorities of the Council. The study also noted that financial capacity of the council is weak despite the reform which have not provided for the expenditure on school infrastructure, furniture and poor academic performance to standard seven examinations and inadequate funds disbursed to the council, have led to poor primary education service delivery. The study recommends that council should be assured of autonomy in fiscal control and management to ensure qualitative and quantitative primary education service delivery.

scholarly journals CONDITIONS AND FACTORS OF EFFECTIVE USE OF LOCAL BUDGET FUNDS DURING THE REFORM OF FINANCIAL DECENTRALIZATION

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liudmyla Denishchenko
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Significant Degree ◽  
Job Responsibilities ◽  
First Results ◽  
The Government ◽  
Local Budget ◽  
Decentralization Reform ◽  
Effective Use

The implementation of the financial decentralization reform in Ukraine, which is the most important component of the general reform of local self-government in Ukraine for seven years, already has the first results and materials for research and conclusions. The state has proposed stages of reform and further activities of local governments. The government ensures the declared national expenditures delegated to local councils and recognizes the significant degree of their independence in planning, creating and implementing their budget plans. However, at the local level there are a number of problems that lead to inefficiency or inexpediency of costly financial activities. The article considers the most significant, effective and universal conditions and factors for improving the efficiency of spending financial resources of local budgets in the implementation of local government reform in Ukraine. The reasons for the need to implement the reform of financial decentralization and the problems it should solve are presented. Among the described bases of increase of efficiency of use of means – legislative, organizational, resource. Their definition was made possible by studying the results of community spending management during the first years of the reform. Most of them have an organizational character, i.e. one that is possible for the community to implement as a cohesive social body at the local level, have a low level of costs or opportunities for external financing or co-financing. Factors of its implementation, author’s comments and evaluation of efficiency are provided to each defined condition. The most important among the basics of effective spending of local budgets are: the availability of necessary and quality legislation, preparation and use of motivated staff of local governments, creation and implementation of social dialogue in the community, comprehensive control and analysis of public spending, determining responsibility for job responsibilities relevant employees, use of foreign experience and best financial practices of Ukrainian communities, use of energy-saving technologies, optimization of local government maintenance costs. Each of the presented bases has the described factors of their implementation which are described in article. The use of such factors makes it possible to use the available on a possible basis the effectiveness of the use of local funds, an important component of the community’s own resources during the reform of local self-government.

scholarly journals Decentralization Policy in Ukraine: How Voluntary Amalgamation, Inter-Municipal Cooperation and Fiscal Incentives Impacted the Local Government System

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 311-343
Author(s):  
Glendal Wright ◽  
Sergii Slukhai
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Financial Incentives ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Statistical Tests ◽  
Soviet Bloc ◽  
Fiscal Incentives ◽  
Decentralization Policy ◽  
Decentralization Reform ◽  
The Impact

Abstract This paper examines the progress of implementing a comprehensive decentralization program in Ukraine. Ukraine was practically the last country of the former Soviet bloc to undertake a comprehensive decentralization program. The decentralization program was based on three pillars: (1) a reliance on voluntary amalgamation of the local government units, (2) the use of inter-municipal cooperation, and (3) enhanced financial incentives. The authors examine how these policies were implemented as well as the impact on local governments service delivery and fiscal capacity. The analyses are based on available data and the application of statistical tests measuring fiscal resources to the population size and other variables of the local government. The study has revealed some significant flaws in Ukrainian decentralization policy implementation. The voluntary approach eventually had to be abandoned for a mandatory approach. The weak progress in inter-municipal cooperation did not establish improved service delivery across a large number of local government units. The financial incentives with greater sharing of taxes did not provide sufficient additional resources to make the units financially sustainable. Finally, the results of the local government elections held in the amalgamated units did not reveal widespread support for the new units and the decentralization reforms. These issues create significant risks for the final success of the decentralization reform.

Processes of decentralization of territorial organization of government: Problems and prospects

2021 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-92
Author(s):  
Oleksandr M. Nepomnyashchyy ◽  
Oleksandra A. Marusheva ◽  
Oksana V. Medvedchuk ◽  
Iryna A. Lahunova ◽  
Denis V. Kislov
Keyword(s):  
Local Government ◽  
Public Administration ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Territorial Development ◽  
Normative Documents ◽  
Balanced Development ◽  
Territorial Organization ◽  
Decentralization Reform

The article considers the implementation of decentralization processes in the national system of public administration. In the context of socio-economic and political problems in Ukraine, the issues of ensuring the effectiveness of regional development are becoming increasingly important. The existing system of administrative-territorial organization and hierarchy of power, distribution of powers between public administration bodies at the national and regional levels and local self-government bodies was not able to ensure balanced development of territories. The priority was to ensure equal access to social, administrative, communal and other services for the population of both large cities and rural areas. An important aspect of development is the issue of community responsibility for management decisions. Representation of the community in matters of territorial development is of increased relevance. A retrospective analysis of the development of decentralization reform in Ukraine and a system of legislative support for the functioning of amalgamated territorial communities were conducted in order to determine the prospects for further implementation of decentralization reform in Ukraine. Thus, the article considers the regulatory framework for the introduction of a system of decentralization of power in Ukraine. Certain aspects have been identified that have not been elaborated by law and hinder the further development of the system of amalgamated territorial communities. The analysis of the legal framework made it possible to identify the main normative documents regulating decentralization processes in Ukraine, outline their role in the development of decentralization processes, and determine the legal limits of capabilities and obligations of different levels of government, including local government and local government

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