<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Based on a survey of inter-municipal unions (IMUs) and inter-municipal companies (IMComs) in Poland, this article identifies the most common motives for launching inter-municipal cooperation and the most frequently reported outcomes. The declared motives are compared with the perceived outcomes, with a particular focus on mismatch situations: disappointments (when the expected gain was not realised) and unexpected outcomes (when the reported outcomes exceeded initial expectations). The research shows that the latter are reported more frequently than the former. The most frequently indicated motives for cooperation were related to financial benefits and included cost reduction and applying for additional funding. The “defensive” motive of IMC – cooperation to maintain the status quo – is practically absent. The data also suggests that cooperation can be perceived as “a value in its own right”.</p></abstract>

Based on a survey of inter-municipal unions (IMUs) and inter-municipal companies (IMComs) in Poland, this article identifies the most common motives for launching inter-municipal cooperation and the most frequently reported outcomes. The declared motives are compared with the perceived outcomes, with a particular focus on mismatch situations: disappointments (when the expected gain was not realised) and unexpected outcomes (when the reported outcomes exceeded initial expectations). The research shows that the latter are reported more frequently than the former. The most frequently indicated motives for cooperation were related to financial benefits and included cost reduction and applying for additional funding. The “defensive” motive of IMC – cooperation to maintain the status quo – is practically absent. The data also suggests that cooperation can be perceived as “a value in its own right”.

Disappointment or unexpected gain? A survey-based study of the motives and outcomes of inter-municipal cooperation in Poland

Miscellanea Geographica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Based on a survey of inter-municipal unions (IMUs) and inter-municipal companies (IMComs) in Poland, this article identifies the most common motives for...

Disappointment or unexpected gain? A survey-based study of the motives and outcomes of inter-municipal cooperation in Poland

Publié en ligne: 31 oct. 2019

Pages: 235 - 241

Reçu: 05 nov. 2018

Accepté: 04 janv. 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2019-0020

Mots clés
Inter-municipal cooperation, local government, Poland

© 2019 Adam Gendźwiłł, Joanna Krukowska, Marta Lackowska, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Disappointment or unexpected gain? A survey-based study of the motives and outcomes of inter-municipal cooperation in Poland

Publié en ligne: 31 oct. 2019

Pages: 235 - 241

Reçu: 05 nov. 2018

Accepté: 04 janv. 2019

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2019-0020

Mots clésInter-municipal cooperation, local government, Poland

© 2019 Adam Gendźwiłł, Joanna Krukowska, Marta Lackowska, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Figure 1

Mots clés
Inter-municipal cooperation, local government, Poland