FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO THE INSTITUTIONAL EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENTS IN THE ADMINISTRATIVE AREA

Research background: The theory of endogenous regional development indicates in par-ticular the role of local authorities in creating the conditions for socio-economic development. Among the factors that shape institutional efficiency of local government, the ones referring to the administrative sphere should be especially analyzed. Purpose of the article: The aim of the paper was the assessment of the activities shaping institutional efficiency in the administrative area with respect to the activities pursued by local governments in Poland, and to assess the effects of such activities. The analysis includes activities aimed at streamlining service provision, implementation of a system of self-control of provided services, and measures related to the adjustment of the organizational structure of an office to the implemented tasks. Methods: For the purpose of performing the study a questionnaire was prepared and sent to local authorities in Poland. The research was conducted between 2015 and 2016 on a sample of 1,220 municipalities from 2,479. Identification of activities implemented by local gov-ernments was made on the basis of an analysis of the task implementation index. The evalu-ation of effects of tasks was made on the basis of the values of effect index of implemented tasks. Findings & Value added: Many local governments do not fully apply the available tools that streamline the provision of administrative services. The value of the task performance index had a low average level in Poland (0.42). Representatives of local authorities were convinced of the relatively high efficiency of undertaken activities. The value of the task implementation index in the area of self-control of the provided services remained at the level of 0.48. The average value of effects of activities amounted to 0.55. The average index of task implementation of activities adjusting the organizational structure to the implemented tasks and provided services amounted to 0.64 in Poland.