Perception of Intermunicipal Cooperation as a Managerial Approach: Centralized Decisions or Voluntary Principle – What is More Efficient?

Abstract

This paper examines the influence of managerial approach in terms of Intermunicipal cooperation on the efficiency and effectiveness of the local municipalities. The Intermunicipal cooperation shall not be understood as general panacea for municipalities. While in some countries, there had been identified the benefits of Intermunicipal cooperation, there are countries which decided to perform the cooperation through softer legislative measures. These managerial approaches to govern the cooperation are either left on the decisions of legislator or the voluntary principle is adopted. The results of the research streamline that the managerial approach influences the performance of competences in terms of efficiency.