Umwandlungen im kommunalen Dienstleistungssektor in Polen nach 1990 [Transformations in the municipal services sector in Poland after 1990]

Abstract

The privatisation of many services traditionally provided by local self-governments, which has been taking place in European countries since the 1970s, was significantly delayed in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, and was preceded by a return to a free market economy and democracy at the local level. The restructuring of the systems of the former communist states at the local level required not only the development of legal bases for the activities of local governments, but above all the restoration of municipal property. During the rule of the communist parties, local administrations in these countries had no legal personality and therefore no right to property. As a result of the reforms introduced, local administrations did not acquire full rights to municipal property in all countries of this region. They were not responsible to the same extent for the form of municipal services. The restoration of municipal property was delayed, which hindered local economic development. Among the countries of the former Eastern Bloc, Poland implemented one of the most successful reforms in the area of ​​decentralization of public funds and municipalization of state assets.