Actual number: 1/2024
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THE OPTIMAL SIZE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN SELECTED EU COUNTRIES
The residential structure of Slovakia is the result of historical and economic development in specific natural conditions. It is estimated that there are more than 7,000 settlements in Slovakia, which are combined into 2,890 municipalities. There are 138 cities, and more than half of the population lives in them - 58%. The fragmented settlement structure, which is typical for Slovakia, essentially means an above-average representation of small municipalities or too low a figure for the size of the average municipalities. This brings with it a few problems such as a lack of financial resources, weak human capital, and a lack of interest in running for mayor or members of the municipal council. However, what is the optimal size of the municipalities? For many years, it has been one of the most discussed problems in relation to the organization of the state at lower levels. The aim of the article is to point out this problem based on deepening the theoretical knowledge of the forms of residential structures of local governments in the EU with a narrower focus on the Slovak Republic. To achieve the goal, the method of content analysis, description and comparison is used. The result of the article is a clear mapping of the average number of inhabitants in the EU per one administrative unit, the opinions of the leaders of local governments, as well as examples of good practices for the Slovak Republic
Release: 2023/1 Pages: 29-37 JEL classification: R5, O2, H1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52665/ser20230104
Keywords: Local Governments, municipalities, settlements, fragmentation, European Union
Section:
Contacts:
PhDr. Milan Dousa, PhD.
Department of Economics and Management of Public Administration
Faculty of Public Administration
Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice
Popradská 66, 040 11 Košice
e-mail: milan.dousa@upjs.sk
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