Financial Autonomy of Local Self-Government: Analysis and Assessing

Abstract

The article considers issues related to ensuring the financial autonomy of local self-government. The purpose of this study is to systematize the theoretical foundations and develop practical recommendations for assessing the financial autonomy of local self-government and the directions of its strengthening in the current conditions of sustainable development. The study of the theoretical foundations of local self-government is deepened, namely, the role of the financial basis of local self-government in achieving the autonomy of local budgets is determined, the features of medium-term planning of local budgets are revealed. A model for assessing the financial autonomy of local self-government is proposed, which takes into account the indicators of budgetary autonomy in terms of revenues, budgetary autonomy in terms of expenditures, budgetary autonomy in terms of transfers and tax autonomy. In fulfilling the goal of this study, we used various methods of scientific research: monographic method in the process of studying the essence of financial autonomy; analytical method in the analysis of revenues and expenditures of the Sumy region budget; statistical method for calculating the coefficients of financial autonomy. The article analyses and evaluates the indicators of financial autonomy on the example of the budget of Sumy region for the period of 2018-2022. The strengths and weaknesses of the financial autonomy of the budget of Sumy region are substantiated. Risks and opportunities in strengthening the financial autonomy of local self-government of the Sumy region budget are identified on the basis of SWOT analysis. Among the vectors for strengthening, the financial autonomy of local self-government is the intensification of the processes of interaction between local development stakeholders. Type of article is empirical. The article considers issues related to ensuring the financial autonomy of local self-government. The purpose of this study is to systematize the theoretical foundations and develop practical recommendations for assessing the financial autonomy of local self-government and the directions of its strengthening in the current conditions of sustainable development. The study of the theoretical foundations of local self-government is deepened, namely, the role of the financial basis of local self-government in achieving the autonomy of local budgets is determined, the features of medium-term planning of local budgets are revealed. A model for assessing the financial autonomy of local self-government is proposed, which takes into account the indicators of budgetary autonomy in terms of revenues, budgetary autonomy in terms of expenditures, budgetary autonomy in terms of transfers and tax autonomy. In fulfilling the goal of this study, we used various methods of scientific research: monographic method in the process of studying the essence of financial autonomy; analytical method in the analysis of revenues and expenditures of the Sumy region budget; statistical method for calculating the coefficients of financial autonomy. The article analyses and evaluates the indicators of financial autonomy on the example of the budget of Sumy region for the period of 2018-2022. The strengths and weaknesses of the financial autonomy of the budget of Sumy region are substantiated. Risks and opportunities in strengthening the financial autonomy of local self-government of the Sumy region budget are identified on the basis of SWOT analysis. Among the vectors for strengthening, the financial autonomy of local self-government is the intensification of the processes of interaction between local development stakeholders. Type of article is empirical.