<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The paper explores and explains the fragmentation process in Croatian local government during the transition period from 1990 onwards. Special focus is given to the emergence of new municipalities (municipal splits/secessions) that occurred after the new two-tier local government system was established in 1993. Excessive fragmentation of territorial structure at the beginning of the 1990s was a systematic and centrally driven reform that was meant to break with the inherited local government model and break up its territorial structure as radically as possible. While the initial overhaul in 1993 was mostly the result of conscious policy implemented in a top-down manner, subsequent municipal splits were mostly the outcome of local initiatives and lobbying, and were predominantly shaped by local, primarily economic factors, whereas political and cultural factors were of secondary importance. The national institutional context, including criteria and procedural rules for splits, were quite liberal during this whole period, with a moderate tightening-up trajectory. The number of municipalities finally stabilised in 2006, since when there have been no more splits.</p>
</abstract>

The paper explores and explains the fragmentation process in Croatian local government during the transition period from 1990 onwards. Special focus is given to the emergence of new municipalities (municipal splits/secessions) that occurred after the new two-tier local government system was established in 1993. Excessive fragmentation of territorial structure at the beginning of the 1990s was a systematic and centrally driven reform that was meant to break with the inherited local government model and break up its territorial structure as radically as possible. While the initial overhaul in 1993 was mostly the result of conscious policy implemented in a top-down manner, subsequent municipal splits were mostly the outcome of local initiatives and lobbying, and were predominantly shaped by local, primarily economic factors, whereas political and cultural factors were of secondary importance. The national institutional context, including criteria and procedural rules for splits, were quite liberal during this whole period, with a moderate tightening-up trajectory. The number of municipalities finally stabilised in 2006, since when there have been no more splits.

<bold>Process of local</bold> government fragmentation in Croatia: From a big-bang to a status quo

Miscellanea Geographica

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

 government fragmentation in Croatia: From a big-bang to a status quo

The paper explores and explains the fragmentation process in Croatian local government during the transition period from 1990 onwards. Special focus is given...

Population	<1,000	1–2,000	2–3,000	3–5,000	>5,000
Number of municipalities	14	31	25	6	4
Share of new municipalities	17.5%	38.8%	31.2%	7.5%	5%

Ratio new/abandoned	<0.5	0.5–1	1–2	>2
Number of municipalities	9	28	20	9
Share of municipalities	13.6%	42.5%	30.3%	13.6%

Population size ratio	<2×Even-steven	2–5×Grown-up leaving the nest	>5×Nestling leaving the nest
Number of municipalities	31	18	17
Share of total splits	47%	27%	26%

Year	1993	1994	1995	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2006
Number of splits	-	1	1	49	4	2	1	1	1	2	6
Number of municipalities established	-	1	10	52	4	2	1	1	1	2	6
Total number of municipalities	487	488	498	539	543	545	546	547	548	550	556

Process of local government fragmentation in Croatia: From a big-bang to a status quo

Data publikacji: 20 sty 2021

Zakres stron: 46 - 53

Otrzymano: 01 lip 2020

Przyjęty: 27 paź 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2020-0043

Słowa kluczowe
Croatia, local government, municipal splits, territorial fragmentation

© 2021 Mihovil Škarica, published by Sciendo

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

Population categories of new municipalities

Ratio of per capita expenditure between new and abandoned municipalitiesAll financial indicators are drawn from the annual financial reports of local government units compiled and published by the Ministry of Finance.

Population size of new municipalities in relation to the abandoned

Timeline and number of municipal secessions in Croatia

Process of local government fragmentation in Croatia: From a big-bang to a status quo

Data publikacji: 20 sty 2021

Zakres stron: 46 - 53

Otrzymano: 01 lip 2020

Przyjęty: 27 paź 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgrsd-2020-0043

Słowa kluczoweCroatia, local government, municipal splits, territorial fragmentation

© 2021 Mihovil Škarica, published by Sciendo

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

Population categories of new municipalities

Ratio of per capita expenditure between new and abandoned municipalitiesAll financial indicators are drawn from the annual financial reports of local government units compiled and published by the Ministry of Finance.

Population size of new municipalities in relation to the abandoned

Timeline and number of municipal secessions in Croatia

Słowa kluczowe
Croatia, local government, municipal splits, territorial fragmentation