Diversification of the financial situation of territorial self-government units in terms of changes in the number of inhabitantss (example of eastern and western regions of Poland)

Purpose: The aim of the article is to identify and assess the differentiation of the financial situation of communes without cities with poviat status in terms of changes in the number of their inhabitants in the eastern and western regions of Poland. Design/methodology/approach: Identification and evaluation of the diversification of the financial situation of communes without cities with poviat status in terms of changes in the number of their inhabitants in the eastern and western regions of Poland. The empirical material of the article consists of figures from the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office in Warsaw for the years 1995 and 2018-2020. They apply both to the entire country and to all municipalities without cities with poviat rights, located in six voivodships of eastern and western Poland, i.e., Lubelskie, Podkarpackie and Podlaskie as well as Dolnośląskie, Lubuskie and Zachodniopomorskie. The collected and structured empirical material was developed in a descriptive, tabular, and graphic form, using the method of comparative analysis. Additionally, a score was made of all diagnostic features illustrating the financial situation of the analyzed local government units in the eastern and western regions of Poland against the background of the entire country for 2018-2020. Findings: The analysis of statistical data showed that changes in the number of population (inhabitants) constitute essential demographic conditions for the economy and financial situation of municipalities without poviat status in the analyzed regions of Poland. It also confirmed the research hypothesis, which assumes that communes in western regions of Poland are in a better financial situation compared to eastern regions, especially those with an increase in the number of inhabitants. Originality/value: The originality of the work is based on the author's approach to the analysis of the undertaken research issues and making a point evaluation of the financial situation of the examined local government units. The work is addressed primarily to local government officials responsible for local government public finances and the possibilities and directions of local socioeconomic development, as well as to decision-makers who implement regional development policy in Poland.