Does Local Democracy Perform Better in Smaller Jurisdictions? Survey Evidence from Poland
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4335/14.4.759-782(2016)Keywords:
local democracy, local government, jurisdiction sizeAbstract
The article investigates the relationship between the size of municipality and the functioning of local democracy in Poland. It discusses advantages and disadvantages of scale observable in local democratic institutions, and citizens’ political attitudes and behaviour. The empirical evidence is based on a survey of citizens conducted in 2015. A set of multi-level regression models is presented in order to account for individual- and municipality-level effects. The results generally support the argument that local democracy performs better in smaller municipalities. The negative effects of scale are visible in the case of political interest, citizens’ efficacy, and civic engagement, but no relation between size and local attachment was found in Poland.
References
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Blom-Hansen, J., Houlberg, K. & Serritzlew, S. (2014) Size, democracy and economic costs of running the political system, American Journal of Political Science, 58(4), pp. 790-803.
Boedetlje, M. & Denters, B. (2010) Step-by-Step: Territorial Choice in the Netherlands, In: Baldersheim, H. & Rose, L. (eds.) (2010) Territorial Choice: The Politics of Boundaries and Borders (London: Palgrave-Macmillan).
Borecký, J. & Prudký, L. (2001) Public perception of local government in the Czech Repbulic, In: P. Swianiewicz (ed.) Public perception of local governments (Budapest: LGI-Open Society Institute), pp. 15-40.
Byrnes, J. & Dollery, B. (2002) Do Economies of Scale Exist in Australian Local Government? A Review of the Research Evidence, Urban Policy and Research, 20(4), pp. 391-414.
Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., Miller, W. E. & Stokes, D. E. (1960) The American Voter (Chicago: University of Chicago).
Crenson, M. A. (1983) Neighbourhood politics (Cambridge: Harvard University Press).
Dahl, R. & Tufte, E. R. (1973) Size and Democracy (Stanford: Stanford University Press).
Denters, B., Lander, A., Mouritzen, P. E. & Rose, L. (2014) Size and Local Democracy (Cheltenham-Northampton: Edward Elgar).
Denters, B. (2002) Size and Political Trust: Evidence from Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway and United Kingdom, Government & Policy C: Environment and Planning, 20(6), pp. 793-812.
Drew, J. & Dollery, B. (2016) Does size still matter? An empirical analysis of the effectiveness of Victorian local authorities, Local Government Studies, 42(1), pp. 15-28.
Frandsen, A. G. (2002) Size and electoral participation in local elections, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 20(6), pp. 853-869.
Gendźwiłł, A., Żółtak, T. & Rutkowski, J. (2015) Niekonkurencyjne wybory, brakujący kandydaci. Dlaczego niektóre komitety wyborcze nie wystawiają kandydatów na burmistrzów?, Studia Regionalne i Lokalne, 4(62), pp. 64-79.
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Goldsmith, M. & Rose, L. (2002) Size and Democracy - guest editorial, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 20(6), pp. 791–792.
Hajnal, G. (2001) Hopes and reality. The first decade of the Hungarian local government system in the eyes of the public, In: Swianiewicz, P. (ed.) Public perception of local governments (Budapest: LGI-Open Society Institute), pp. 115-168.
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Kachniarz, M. & Babczuk, A. (2014) Ocena podziału terytorialnego państwa z uwzględnieniem efektywności funkcjonowania urzędów organów jednostek samorządu terytorialnego – wnioski i rekomendacje, expert report for the Ministry of Administration (Warsaw: Ministry of Administration).
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Kjaer, U., (2007) The decreasing number of candidates at Danish local elections: Local demo- cracy in crisis?, Local Government Studies, 33(2), pp. 195–213.
Kostelecky, T. (2007) Political parties and their role in local politics in the post-communist Czech Republic, In: Lazin, F., Evans, M., Hoffmann-Martinot, V. & Wollmann, H. (eds) Local Government Reforms in Countries in Transition (Lanham, Boulder, New York, Toronto, Plymouth: Lexington Books), pp. 121–139.
Ladner, A. (2002) Size and direct democracy at the local level: The case of Switzerland, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 20(6), pp. 813–828.
Lassen, D. D. & Serritzlew, S. (2011) Jurisdiction Size and Local Democracy: Evidence on Internal Political Efficacy from Large-scale Municipal Reform, American Political Science Review, 105(2), pp. 238–258.
Lesjo, J. H. & Pedersen, J. H. (2014) The Norwegian municipal territorial reform: A study of the preparation phase, Paper presented at ECPR General Conference 2014, Glasgow.
Lidström, A. (2006) Commuting and citizen participation in Swedish city-regions. Political Studies, 54, pp. 865-888.
Mouritzen, P. E. (1989) City Size and Citizens’ Satisfaction: Two Competing Theories Revisited, European Journal of Political Research, 17(6), pp. 661-688.
Mouritzen, P.E. (2010) The Danish Revolution in Local Government: How and Why? In: Baldersheim, H., Rose, L. (2010) Territorial Choice: The Politics of Boundaries and Borders (London: Palgrave-Macmillan).
Newton, K. (1982) Is small really so beautiful? Is big really so ugly? Size, effectiveness and democracy in local government, Political Studies, 30(2), pp. 190-206.
Nowak, S. (1981) Values and Attitudes of Polish People, Scientific American, 245(1), pp. 45-53.
Olech, A. & Kaźmierczak, T. (2010) Modele partycypacji publicznej, In: Olech, A. (ed.) Partycypacja publiczna: o uczestnictwie w życiu wspólnoty lokalnej (Warszawa: Instytut Spraw Publicznych), pp. 100-111.
Oliver, J. E. (2001) Democracy in Suburbia (Princeton: Princeton University Press).
Putnam, R. D. (2000) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (New York: Simon & Schuster).
Rose, L. (2002) Municipal Size and Local Non-Electoral Participation: Findings from Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, Government & Policy C: Environment and Planning, 20(6), pp. 829-851.
Ryšavý, D. & Bernard, J. (2013) Size and Local Democracy: the Case of Czech Municipal Representatives. Local Government Studies, 39(6), pp. 833-852.
Schaap, L. & Daemen, H. (2012) Renewal in European Local Democracies (Wiesbaden: Springer).
Sharpe, L .J. (1995) Local Government: Size, Efficiency and Citizen Participation In: Council of Europe (ed.) Local and Regional Authorities in Europe, No. 56 (Strasbourg Council of Europe).
Swianiewicz, P. (ed.) (2002) Consolidation or Fragmentation? The Size of Local Governments in Central and Eastern Europe (Budapest: LGI – Open Society Institute).
Swianiewicz, P. (ed.) (2010a) Territorial consolidation reforms in Europe (Budapest: LGI-Open Society Institute).
Swianiewicz, P. (2010b) Czy rozmiar ma znaczenie? Zróżnicowanie opinii mieszkańców o funkcjonowaniu samorządów lokalnych w zależności od wielkości gminy, Samorząd Terytorialny, 4, pp. 5-16.
Swianiewicz, P. (2015) Reformy terytorialne – europejskie doświadczenia ostatniej dekady, Samorząd Terytorialny, 6, pp. 7-22.
Tiebout, C. (1956) A Pure Theory of Local Expenditures, Journal of Political Economy, 64, pp. 416-424.
Treisman, D. (2007) The Architecture of Government: Rethinking Political Decentralization (Cambridge – New York: Cambridge University Press).
Van Biezen, I., Mair, P. & Poguntke, T. (2012) Going, going,... gone? The decline of party membership in contemporary Europe, European Journal of Political Research, 51(1), pp. 24-56.
Verba, S. & Nie, N. H. (1972) Participation in America: Political democracy and social equality (New York: Harper and Row).
Walker, R. M. & Andrews, R. (2013) Local government management and performance: a review of evidence, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 25, pp. 101-133.
Wollmann, H. (2010) Territorial consolidation reforms in German East Landers. In: Swianiewicz, P. (ed.) Territorial Consolidation Reforms in Europe (Budapest: LGI-Open Society Institute).</span></p>
Bartkowski, J. (2003) Tradycja i polityka: wpływ tradycji kulturowych polskich regionów na współczesne zachowania społeczne i polityczne (Warsaw: Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw).
Blom-Hansen, J., Houlberg, K. & Serritzlew, S. (2014) Size, democracy and economic costs of running the political system, American Journal of Political Science, 58(4), pp. 790-803.
Boedetlje, M. & Denters, B. (2010) Step-by-Step: Territorial Choice in the Netherlands, In: Baldersheim, H. & Rose, L. (eds.) (2010) Territorial Choice: The Politics of Boundaries and Borders (London: Palgrave-Macmillan).
Borecký, J. & Prudký, L. (2001) Public perception of local government in the Czech Repbulic, In: P. Swianiewicz (ed.) Public perception of local governments (Budapest: LGI-Open Society Institute), pp. 15-40.
Byrnes, J. & Dollery, B. (2002) Do Economies of Scale Exist in Australian Local Government? A Review of the Research Evidence, Urban Policy and Research, 20(4), pp. 391-414.
Campbell, A., Converse, P. E., Miller, W. E. & Stokes, D. E. (1960) The American Voter (Chicago: University of Chicago).
Crenson, M. A. (1983) Neighbourhood politics (Cambridge: Harvard University Press).
Dahl, R. & Tufte, E. R. (1973) Size and Democracy (Stanford: Stanford University Press).
Denters, B., Lander, A., Mouritzen, P. E. & Rose, L. (2014) Size and Local Democracy (Cheltenham-Northampton: Edward Elgar).
Denters, B. (2002) Size and Political Trust: Evidence from Denmark, The Netherlands, Norway and United Kingdom, Government & Policy C: Environment and Planning, 20(6), pp. 793-812.
Drew, J. & Dollery, B. (2016) Does size still matter? An empirical analysis of the effectiveness of Victorian local authorities, Local Government Studies, 42(1), pp. 15-28.
Frandsen, A. G. (2002) Size and electoral participation in local elections, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 20(6), pp. 853-869.
Gendźwiłł, A., Żółtak, T. & Rutkowski, J. (2015) Niekonkurencyjne wybory, brakujący kandydaci. Dlaczego niektóre komitety wyborcze nie wystawiają kandydatów na burmistrzów?, Studia Regionalne i Lokalne, 4(62), pp. 64-79.
Goldsmith, M. & Rose, L. (2000) Constituency, size and electoral politics. A comparison of patterns at local elections in Norway and the UK, paper presented at the IPSA World Congress, Quebec, Canada, August 1-5.
Goldsmith, M. & Rose, L. (2002) Size and Democracy - guest editorial, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 20(6), pp. 791–792.
Hajnal, G. (2001) Hopes and reality. The first decade of the Hungarian local government system in the eyes of the public, In: Swianiewicz, P. (ed.) Public perception of local governments (Budapest: LGI-Open Society Institute), pp. 115-168.
Herbst, J. (2008) Kraina nieufności: kapitał społeczny, rozwój gospodarczy i sprawność instytucji publicznych w polskiej literaturze akademickiej, In: Swianiewicz, P. (ed.) Szafarze darów europejskich: kapitał społeczny a realizacja polityki regionalnej w polskich województwach (Warszawa: Scholar), pp. 20-53.
Kachniarz, M. & Babczuk, A. (2014) Ocena podziału terytorialnego państwa z uwzględnieniem efektywności funkcjonowania urzędów organów jednostek samorządu terytorialnego – wnioski i rekomendacje, expert report for the Ministry of Administration (Warsaw: Ministry of Administration).
Keating, M. (1995) Size, Efficiency and Democracy: Consolidation, Fragmentation and Public Choice, In: Judge, D., Stoker, G. & Wollmann, H. (eds.) Theories of Urban Politics (Sage, London- Thousand Oaks - New Delhi).
Kjaer, U., (2007) The decreasing number of candidates at Danish local elections: Local demo- cracy in crisis?, Local Government Studies, 33(2), pp. 195–213.
Kostelecky, T. (2007) Political parties and their role in local politics in the post-communist Czech Republic, In: Lazin, F., Evans, M., Hoffmann-Martinot, V. & Wollmann, H. (eds) Local Government Reforms in Countries in Transition (Lanham, Boulder, New York, Toronto, Plymouth: Lexington Books), pp. 121–139.
Ladner, A. (2002) Size and direct democracy at the local level: The case of Switzerland, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 20(6), pp. 813–828.
Lassen, D. D. & Serritzlew, S. (2011) Jurisdiction Size and Local Democracy: Evidence on Internal Political Efficacy from Large-scale Municipal Reform, American Political Science Review, 105(2), pp. 238–258.
Lesjo, J. H. & Pedersen, J. H. (2014) The Norwegian municipal territorial reform: A study of the preparation phase, Paper presented at ECPR General Conference 2014, Glasgow.
Lidström, A. (2006) Commuting and citizen participation in Swedish city-regions. Political Studies, 54, pp. 865-888.
Mouritzen, P. E. (1989) City Size and Citizens’ Satisfaction: Two Competing Theories Revisited, European Journal of Political Research, 17(6), pp. 661-688.
Mouritzen, P.E. (2010) The Danish Revolution in Local Government: How and Why? In: Baldersheim, H., Rose, L. (2010) Territorial Choice: The Politics of Boundaries and Borders (London: Palgrave-Macmillan).
Newton, K. (1982) Is small really so beautiful? Is big really so ugly? Size, effectiveness and democracy in local government, Political Studies, 30(2), pp. 190-206.
Nowak, S. (1981) Values and Attitudes of Polish People, Scientific American, 245(1), pp. 45-53.
Olech, A. & Kaźmierczak, T. (2010) Modele partycypacji publicznej, In: Olech, A. (ed.) Partycypacja publiczna: o uczestnictwie w życiu wspólnoty lokalnej (Warszawa: Instytut Spraw Publicznych), pp. 100-111.
Oliver, J. E. (2001) Democracy in Suburbia (Princeton: Princeton University Press).
Putnam, R. D. (2000) Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community (New York: Simon & Schuster).
Rose, L. (2002) Municipal Size and Local Non-Electoral Participation: Findings from Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, Government & Policy C: Environment and Planning, 20(6), pp. 829-851.
Ryšavý, D. & Bernard, J. (2013) Size and Local Democracy: the Case of Czech Municipal Representatives. Local Government Studies, 39(6), pp. 833-852.
Schaap, L. & Daemen, H. (2012) Renewal in European Local Democracies (Wiesbaden: Springer).
Sharpe, L .J. (1995) Local Government: Size, Efficiency and Citizen Participation In: Council of Europe (ed.) Local and Regional Authorities in Europe, No. 56 (Strasbourg Council of Europe).
Swianiewicz, P. (ed.) (2002) Consolidation or Fragmentation? The Size of Local Governments in Central and Eastern Europe (Budapest: LGI – Open Society Institute).
Swianiewicz, P. (ed.) (2010a) Territorial consolidation reforms in Europe (Budapest: LGI-Open Society Institute).
Swianiewicz, P. (2010b) Czy rozmiar ma znaczenie? Zróżnicowanie opinii mieszkańców o funkcjonowaniu samorządów lokalnych w zależności od wielkości gminy, Samorząd Terytorialny, 4, pp. 5-16.
Swianiewicz, P. (2015) Reformy terytorialne – europejskie doświadczenia ostatniej dekady, Samorząd Terytorialny, 6, pp. 7-22.
Tiebout, C. (1956) A Pure Theory of Local Expenditures, Journal of Political Economy, 64, pp. 416-424.
Treisman, D. (2007) The Architecture of Government: Rethinking Political Decentralization (Cambridge – New York: Cambridge University Press).
Van Biezen, I., Mair, P. & Poguntke, T. (2012) Going, going,... gone? The decline of party membership in contemporary Europe, European Journal of Political Research, 51(1), pp. 24-56.
Verba, S. & Nie, N. H. (1972) Participation in America: Political democracy and social equality (New York: Harper and Row).
Walker, R. M. & Andrews, R. (2013) Local government management and performance: a review of evidence, Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory, 25, pp. 101-133.
Wollmann, H. (2010) Territorial consolidation reforms in German East Landers. In: Swianiewicz, P. (ed.) Territorial Consolidation Reforms in Europe (Budapest: LGI-Open Society Institute).</span></p>
Published
2016-10-31
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