Efficiency of the functioning of public administration: regional empirical study

Abstract

This paper presents qualitative research findings and a comparative scale efficiency analysis of the units performing services in the building sector. The analysis is based on two unique regional datasets from two countries, the Slovak Republic (SR) and the Czech Republic (CZ). Performance of building competences in Slovakia is based on the principle of voluntary cooperation of municipalities. In case of the Czech building sector, the competences have been transferred to the newly created municipalities with delegated or extended competences. Both states introduced reforms in public administration with the aim to improve their efficiency, including the performance of building competences. Czech Republic is currently undergoing a recodification of Building Act with unification of building authorities into the system of state building offices. The results of our qualitative research in both states in the period 2014-2019 show insufficient personal management due to low financing of building competences. Using quantitative statistical methods, we came to the conclusion that in Slovakia, a return to the performance of competences by state administration (district offices) instead of building offices (as a part of self-government) would not be effective.