Local development implications of pork-barrel: a case study of a Czech district

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to contribute to the study of parliamentary grants (also known as “pork barrel”) through a case study focusing on the grant application process from the perspective of municipal representatives and the perception of the grants’ development potential by inhabitants of such municipalities. Existing studies have considered the topic of parliamentary grant allocations at the national level. This article represents the first attempt to consider the issue of parliamentary grants in the regional context research concentrating on a sample of small municipalities with up to 1500 inhabitants within the Czech district of Žďar nad Sazavou. The study analyses the outputs of the author’s survey of local mayors and ordinary inhabitants conducted within these municipalities in September 2013. The results of this research will contribute not only to the study of parliamentary grants, but also to the broader debate on various forms of subsidies. Furthermore, the study can generate insights into the larger issue of subsidies in Czechia, the distribution of which is often influenced by national politicians. It can also contribute to the broader discussion about the purpose and challenges to the current system of subsidies. The conclusion of this article offers possible solutions to some of these challenges.