Polish DecentralizationPolish DecentralizationAdministrative ReformsAdministrative Reforms

Economic Economic contextcontext

Second Polish Republic – Second Polish Republic – administrative divisionadministrative division

Second Polish RepublicSecond Polish Republic

►The lower level of administration, below The lower level of administration, below voivodeships, were voivodeships, were powiatspowiats (counties). They  (counties). They were subject to several reforms, particularly were subject to several reforms, particularly in early and late 1930s. Below them were in early and late 1930s. Below them were gminasgminas and  and gromadasgromadas. .

►Shortly before the Shortly before the Second World WarSecond World War, in , in April 1939, Poland had 264 powiats, 611 April 1939, Poland had 264 powiats, 611 urban and 3195 rural gminas and 40533 urban and 3195 rural gminas and 40533 gromads. gromads.

Polish People’s Republic -administrative Polish People’s Republic -administrative

division 1945-1975division 1945-1975

14+2 voivodeships, then 17+5

Polish administrative division 1945-1975

Car plates(since 1956)

Voivodeship CapitalArea

km² (1965)Population

(1965)

A białostockie Białystok 23 136 1 160 400

B bydgoskie Bydgoszcz 20 794 1 837 100

G gdańskie Gdańsk 10 984 1 352 800

S katowickie Katowice 9 518 3 524 300

C kieleckie Kielce 19 498 1 899 100

E koszalińskie ¹ Koszalin 17 974 755 100

K krakowskie Kraków 15 350 2 127 600

F Łódzkie Łódź 17 064 1 665 200

L lubelskie Lublin 24 829 1 900 500

O olsztyńskie Olsztyn 20 994 956 600

H opolskie ¹ Opole 9 506 1 009 200

P poznańskie Poznań 26 723 2 126 300

R rzeszowskie Rzeszów 18 658 1 692 800

M szczecińskie Szczecin 12 677 847 600

T warszawskie Warsaw 29 369 2 453 000

X wrocławskie Wrocław 18 827 1 967 000

Z zielonogórskie ¹ Zielona Góra 14 514 847 200

Polish People’s Republic -administrative Polish People’s Republic -administrative divisiondivision 1975-981975-98

49 voivodeships49 voivodeships

WHY?WHY?

► In place of the three-level administrative In place of the three-level administrative division (voivodeship, county, commune), a division (voivodeship, county, commune), a new two-level administrative division was new two-level administrative division was introduced (49 small voivodeships, and introduced (49 small voivodeships, and communes).  communes). 

Polish Revolution of DignityPolish Revolution of Dignity

Round Table TalksRound Table Talks

Third Polish Republic – administrative Third Polish Republic – administrative

divisiondivision

Voivodeship Capital city (cities)

Greater Poland Voivodeship(wielkopolskie) Poznań

Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship(kujawsko-pomorskie) Bydgoszcz and Toruń

Lesser Poland Voivodeship(małopolskie) Kraków

Łódź Voivodeship (łódzkie) Łódź

Lower Silesian Voivodeship(dolnośląskie) Wrocław

Lublin Voivodeship (lubelskie) Lublin

Lubusz Voivodeship (lubuskie) Gorzów Wielkopolskiand Zielona Góra

Masovian Voivodeship(mazowieckie) Warsaw

Opole Voivodeship (opolskie) Opole

Podlaskie Voivodeship (podlaskie) Białystok

Pomeranian Voivodeship(pomorskie) Gdańsk

Silesian Voivodeship (śląskie) Katowice

Subcarpathian Voivodeship(podkarpackie) Rzeszów

Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship(świętokrzyskie) Kielce

Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship(warmińsko-mazurskie) Olsztyn

West Pomeranian Voivodeship(zachodniopomorskie) Szczecin

Third Polish Republic – administrative Third Polish Republic – administrative divisiondivision

VoivodeshipVoivodeship

► Poland is currently divided into 16 provinces Poland is currently divided into 16 provinces known asknown as voivodeshipsvoivodeships ( (PolishPolish: : województwawojewództwa, , singular singular województwowojewództwo). ).

► Administrative authority at voivodeship level is Administrative authority at voivodeship level is shared between a government-appointed shared between a government-appointed governor, called the governor, called the voivodevoivode (usually a political  (usually a political appointee), an elected assembly called the sejmik, appointee), an elected assembly called the sejmik, and an executive chosen by that assembly. The and an executive chosen by that assembly. The leader of that executive is called the leader of that executive is called the marszałekmarszałek. .

PowiatPowiat

► Each voivodeship is divided into a number of smaller Each voivodeship is divided into a number of smaller entities known as powiats (counties). The number of entities known as powiats (counties). The number of powiats per voivodeship ranges from 12 (Opole powiats per voivodeship ranges from 12 (Opole Voivodeship) to 42 (Masovian Voivodeship). This includes Voivodeship) to 42 (Masovian Voivodeship). This includes both powiats proper (known as both powiats proper (known as land countiesland counties, , Polish Polish powiaty ziemskiepowiaty ziemskie), and cities with powiat status (), and cities with powiat status (city city countiescounties, Polish , Polish powiaty grodzkiepowiaty grodzkie or more formally  or more formally miasta miasta na prawach powiatuna prawach powiatu). Land counties have an elected ). Land counties have an elected council (council (rada powiaturada powiatu), which elects an executive headed ), which elects an executive headed by the by the starostastarosta. In city counties the functions of these . In city counties the functions of these institutions are performed by the city's own council and institutions are performed by the city's own council and executive. executive.

GminaGmina

► The third level of administrative division is the gmina (also The third level of administrative division is the gmina (also called commune or municipality). A powiat is typically called commune or municipality). A powiat is typically divided into a number of gminas (between 3 and 19), divided into a number of gminas (between 3 and 19), although the city counties constitute single gminas. A although the city counties constitute single gminas. A gmina may be classed as urban (consisting of a town or gmina may be classed as urban (consisting of a town or city), urban-rural (consisting of a town together with its city), urban-rural (consisting of a town together with its surrounding villages and countryside), or rural (not surrounding villages and countryside), or rural (not containing a town). A gmina has an elected council as well containing a town). A gmina has an elected council as well as a directly elected mayor (known as as a directly elected mayor (known as presidentpresident in large  in large towns, towns, burmistrzburmistrz in most urban and urban-rural gminas,  in most urban and urban-rural gminas, and and wójtwójt in rural gminas).  in rural gminas).

Smaller administrative Smaller administrative unitesunites

►Gminas are generally sub-divided into Gminas are generally sub-divided into smaller units, called osiedle or dzielnica in smaller units, called osiedle or dzielnica in towns, and sołectwo in rural areas. However towns, and sołectwo in rural areas. However these units are of lesser importance and are these units are of lesser importance and are subordinate in status to the gmina. subordinate in status to the gmina.

The Polish Growth Miracle: Outcome of Persistent Reform The Polish Growth Miracle: Outcome of Persistent Reform

EffortsEfforts ► Three blocks of reforms were particularly important in the persistent reform Three blocks of reforms were particularly important in the persistent reform

effort of Polish government. First, the reforms of the Mazowiecki government effort of Polish government. First, the reforms of the Mazowiecki government that brought Poland back from the brink of disaster by macroeconomic that brought Poland back from the brink of disaster by macroeconomic stabilization, price liberalization and import liberalization policies, which also set stabilization, price liberalization and import liberalization policies, which also set the Polish economy on the transformational path from a centrally planned to a the Polish economy on the transformational path from a centrally planned to a market economy. market economy.

► The second large block of reforms was implemented in 1999, when reforms of The second large block of reforms was implemented in 1999, when reforms of health, education, pensions and of regional administration were enacted. health, education, pensions and of regional administration were enacted. These reforms can be considered modernizing reforms as they tackled These reforms can be considered modernizing reforms as they tackled institutions, which were developed under communism and which were in their institutions, which were developed under communism and which were in their existing shape not conducive to improve the competitiveness of the Polish existing shape not conducive to improve the competitiveness of the Polish economy and to ensure sustainable government finances. economy and to ensure sustainable government finances.

► The third block of reforms are those of the first Tusk government towards the The third block of reforms are those of the first Tusk government towards the end of the analyzed period; they can be considered of the “fine-tuning” nature. end of the analyzed period; they can be considered of the “fine-tuning” nature.

Hartmut Lehmann University of Bologna and IZA Policy Paper No. 40 April 2012 Hartmut Lehmann University of Bologna and IZA Policy Paper No. 40 April 2012

The Polish Growth Miracle: The Polish Growth Miracle: Outcome of Persistent Reform EffortsOutcome of Persistent Reform Efforts

► In a democratic context reforms can only be undertaken in a sustained In a democratic context reforms can only be undertaken in a sustained way if a majority of voters favors such reform efforts. Even when way if a majority of voters favors such reform efforts. Even when reform-friendly governments were voted out of office, the new reform-friendly governments were voted out of office, the new governments in Poland never reversed reforms undertaken by the governments in Poland never reversed reforms undertaken by the previous government.previous government.

► This continuous reform stance over two decades is the This continuous reform stance over two decades is the main cause of the Polish growth miracle. main cause of the Polish growth miracle.

► The reasons for the ability of Polish policy makers to pursue economic The reasons for the ability of Polish policy makers to pursue economic and administrative reforms in spite of short-run costs to large sections and administrative reforms in spite of short-run costs to large sections of society will be discussed extensively. of society will be discussed extensively.

Hartmut Lehmann University of Bologna and IZA Policy Paper No. 40 Hartmut Lehmann University of Bologna and IZA Policy Paper No. 40 April 2012April 2012

ФУНДАЦІЯ УКРАЇНСЬКО-ФУНДАЦІЯ УКРАЇНСЬКО-ПОЛЬСКОЇ СПІВПРАЦІ ПОЛЬСКОЇ СПІВПРАЦІ 

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