Tackling Bureaucracy Growth in Time of Crisis: The Case of Czech Statutory Cities

Abstract

In times of economic crisis, municipalities have faced serious fiscal stress and have had to implement responsive measures such as lowering operational costs, a hiring freeze or layoffs. Yet some cities even boost their bureaucratic apparatus. Based on empirical results of Czech statutory cities, it is argued, that the main cause of bureaucratic growth is party fragmentation, government alternations and weak mayors because post-communist administrations are affected by widespread patronage and clientelism. Decline or cutbacks strategies are linked to fiscal stress though in times of elections are determined by political context rather than the economic environment.