IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v12y2020i2p709-d310382.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Endogenous Political, Institutional, Cultural, and Geographic Determinants of Intermunicipal Cooperation—Evidence from Slovakia

Author

Listed:
  • Katarína Melichová

    (Department of Regional and Rural Development, Faculty of European Studies and Regional, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia)

  • Lukáš Varecha

    (Department of Regional and Rural Development, Faculty of European Studies and Regional, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia)

Abstract

All over Europe, but especially in post-communist countries, the institutional environment has been undergoing major changes. In Slovakia, regaining their autonomy has led local governments on the path of fragmentation, unsustainably high expenditures for the provision of public services, and an increase in transaction costs. Current policies targeting these issues are heavily focused on intermunicipal cooperation (IMC). Based on four case studies of different institutional arrangements, this paper aims to investigate which endogenous political, institutional, cultural, and geographic factors influence cooperation among Slovak municipalities. Through the application of social network analysis and regression analysis, we reached several relevant conclusions. A number of common assumptions were confirmed, namely that population size and heterogeneity play a major role, but also that the impact of political affiliation as a deciding factor of IMC is not as straightforward as previous evidence suggested. Results also underline the importance of cross-sectoral partnerships such as the EU’s LEADER initiative as a viable alternative to more traditional forms of IMC (but with some limitations).

Suggested Citation

  • Katarína Melichová & Lukáš Varecha, 2020. "Endogenous Political, Institutional, Cultural, and Geographic Determinants of Intermunicipal Cooperation—Evidence from Slovakia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:709-:d:310382
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/2/709/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/2/709/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jan Hunady, 2017. "Individual and institutional determinants of corruption in the EU countries: the problem of its tolerance," Economia Politica: Journal of Analytical and Institutional Economics, Springer;Fondazione Edison, vol. 34(1), pages 139-157, April.
    2. Rudie Hulst & André van Montfort, 2007. "Inter-Municipal Cooperation: A Widespread Phenomenon," Springer Books, in: Rudie Hulst & André van Montfort (ed.), Inter-Municipal Cooperation in Europe, chapter 0, pages 1-21, Springer.
    3. Xu Wang & Xiaoming Wang & Jingxia Wu & Guochao Zhao, 2017. "Social Network Analysis of Actors in Rural Development: A Case Study of Yanhe Village, Hubei Province, China," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 48(4), pages 869-882, December.
    4. Aaron Deslatte & Richard C. Feiock & Kathryn Wassel, 2017. "Urban Pressures and Innovations: Sustainability Commitment in the Face of Fragmentation and Inequality," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 34(5), pages 700-724, September.
    5. Christian Bergholz & Ivo Bischoff, 2018. "Local council members’ view on intermunicipal cooperation: does office-related self-interest matter?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 52(12), pages 1624-1635, December.
    6. John D. Nystuen & Michael F. Dacey, 1961. "A Graph Theory Interpretation Of Nodal Regions," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(1), pages 29-42, January.
    7. Sara Hughes & Jacqueline Peterson, 2018. "Transforming Municipal Services to Transform Cities: Understanding the Role and Influence of the Private Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-9, January.
    8. Germà Bel & Mildred E. Warner, 2016. "Factors explaining inter-municipal cooperation in service delivery: a meta-regression analysis," Journal of Economic Policy Reform, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 19(2), pages 91-115, April.
    9. Frederic Blaeschke, 2014. "What drives small municipalities to cooperate? Evidence from Hessian municipalities," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201414, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    10. Ramiro Berardo & John T. Scholz, 2010. "Self‐Organizing Policy Networks: Risk, Partner Selection, and Cooperation in Estuaries," American Journal of Political Science, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 54(3), pages 632-649, July.
    11. Kis, Krisztian & Gal, Jozsef & Veha, Antal, 2012. "Effectiveness, Efficiency And Sustainability In Local Rural Development Partnerships," APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, AGRIMBA, vol. 6(3-4), pages 1-8, November.
    12. Jana Soukopová & Gabriela Vaceková, 2018. "Internal factors of intermunicipal cooperation: what matters most and why?," Local Government Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 44(1), pages 105-126, January.
    13. Eduardo Medeiros, 2011. "(Re)defining the Euroregion Concept," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(1), pages 141-158, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Peter Bezák & Peter Mederly & Zita Izakovičová & Milena Moyzeová & Magdaléna Bezáková, 2020. "Perception of Ecosystem Services in Constituting Multi-Functional Landscapes in Slovakia," Land, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Diego Suárez & José M. Díaz-Puente & Maddalena Bettoni, 2021. "Risks Identification and Management Related to Rural Innovation Projects through Social Networks Analysis: A Case Study in Spain," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-23, June.
    3. Zuzana Palková & Marieta Okenková & Marta Harničárová & Jan Valíček & Miroslav Gombár & Jakub Dvorský & Mária Behanovská & Monika Slaninová & Monika Reiskupová & Peter Vnučko, 2021. "Implementation of the EU Quality Policy: Case Study, Slovakia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-25, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ivo Bischoff & Eva Wolfschütz, 2021. "Inter-municipal cooperation in administrative tasks – the role of population dynamics and elections," Local Government Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 47(4), pages 568-592, July.
    2. Banaszewska, Monika & Bischoff, Ivo & Bode, Eva & Chodakowska, Aneta, 2022. "Does inter-municipal cooperation help improve local economic performance? – Evidence from Poland," Regional Science and Urban Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    3. Ivo Bischoff & Eva Wolfschuetz, 2017. "The Emergence of Inter-Municipal Cooperation – A Hazard Model Approach," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201744, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    4. Lothar Grall, 2016. "Geography, Parental Investment, and Comparative Economic Development," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201646, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    5. Lothar Grall & Juergen Meckl, 2016. "Natural Selection, Technological Progress, and the Origin of Human Longevity," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201645, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    6. Christian Bergholz & Ivo Bischoff, 2019. "Citizens’ support for inter-municipal cooperation: evidence from a survey in the German state of Hesse," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(12), pages 1268-1283, March.
    7. Massimiliano Ferraresi & Giuseppe Migali & Leonzio Rizzo, 2017. "Does Inter-municipal Cooperation promote efficiency gains? Evidence from Italian Municipal," Working papers 59, Società Italiana di Economia Pubblica.
    8. Arntsen, Bjørnulf & Torjesen, Dag Olaf & Karlsen, Tor-Ivar, 2021. "Asymmetry in inter-municipal cooperation in health services – How does it affect service quality and autonomy?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    9. Lothar Grall & Juergen Meckl, 2016. "Ice Age Climate, Somatic Capital, and the Timing of the Neolithic Transition," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201644, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    10. Agiamoh Rosaline Georgevna, 2021. "Inter-Regional Cooperation in Waste Management: New Trends in Moscow and the Moscow Region," NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy, Sciendo, vol. 14(2), pages 9-39, December.
    11. Germà Bel & Marianna Sebo, 2018. "“Does inter-municipal cooperation really reduce delivery costs? An empirical evaluation of the role of scale economies, transaction costs, and governance arrangements”," IREA Working Papers 201816, University of Barcelona, Research Institute of Applied Economics, revised Jul 2018.
    12. Eva Wolfschuetz, 2020. "The Effect of Inter-municipal Cooperation on Local Business Development in German Municipalities," MAGKS Papers on Economics 202005, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).
    13. Janel Jett & Leigh Raymond, 2021. "Issue Framing and U.S. State Energy and Climate Policy Choice," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 38(3), pages 278-299, May.
    14. Halyna LYTVYN & Andriy TYUSHKA, 2020. "Rethinking the Governance-Governmentality-Governability nexus at the EU's Eastern Frontiers: the Carpathian Euroregion 2.0 and the future of EU-Ukrainian Cross-Border cooperation," Eastern Journal of European Studies, Centre for European Studies, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, vol. 11, pages 146-183, November.
    15. Friedman, Rachel S. & Guerrero, Angela M. & McAllister, Ryan R.J. & Rhodes, Jonathan R. & Santika, Truly & Budiharta, Sugeng & Indrawan, Tito & Hutabarat, Joseph A. & Kusworo, Ahmad & Yogaswara, Herry, 2020. "Beyond the community in participatory forest management: A governance network perspective," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C).
    16. Kropp, Per & Schwengler, Barbara, 2017. "Stability of functional labour market regions," IAB-Discussion Paper 201721, Institut für Arbeitsmarkt- und Berufsforschung (IAB), Nürnberg [Institute for Employment Research, Nuremberg, Germany].
    17. Jungwon Yeo, 2023. "Interorganizational Coordination for Immigrant Integration into Local Society," Journal of International Migration and Integration, Springer, vol. 24(2), pages 567-585, June.
    18. Jacob Hileman & Ivan Kallstenius & Tiina Häyhä & Celinda Palm & Sarah Cornell, 2020. "Keystone actors do not act alone: A business ecosystem perspective on sustainability in the global clothing industry," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(10), pages 1-17, October.
    19. Jinwon Han, 2023. "Examining Determinants of Corruption at the Individual Level in South Asia," Economies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-24, June.
    20. Nemec Juraj, 2018. "Public Administration Reforms in Slovakia: Limited Outcomes (Why ?)," NISPAcee Journal of Public Administration and Policy, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 115-134, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:2:p:709-:d:310382. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.