Zróżnicowanie państw Unii Europejskiej ze względu na stopień decentralizacji fiskalne

Abstract

The aim of the publication was to compare the degree of expenditure decentralization in the EU countries. In addition to the main objective mentioned, specific objectives were also formulated, i.e. identification of the features of the countries in which its average level was similar, confrontation of the results obtained with the results presented in the literature, checking the suitability of the cluster analysis method for grouping objects (countries) when the variable is expenditure decentralization. The scope of research covered the years 2013-2018. Initially, the cluster analysis method was used to perform the analyses. Due to the unsatisfactory results, further research used the central tendency measure - the arithmetic mean and 4 groups of countries were created: with low, medium, high and the highest degree of decentralization. Group II is the most numerous, comprising 18 countries with a decentralization level ranging 6-12%. Poland was assigned to group III. The results obtained largely coincide with the Loughlin classification. The adopted research hypothesis that there is a relationship between the degree of decentralization and the country's area and population has been confirmed in relation to the first variable.(original abstract)