Lowering the Ability to Generate their Own Income Provinces – A Barrier in the Absorption of European Funds

Abstract

The aim of this article was to identify the direction of the changes in the structure of the income of budget of Polish provinces in terms of quantitative and qualitative analysis. The statistical analysis allowed us for internalize in this area, taking into account share of own revenues in total income (through the use of analysis of the structure, intensity, dynamics and dependencies). The test results showed a systematic decrease in own revenues in total income of all Polish provinces despite the increase in total income. In addition, in the structure of own revenues demonstrated a systematic change in the relationship of tax revenues from legal persons relative to the benefit of increasing taxes on individuals. The context of the analysis was qualitative changes resulting in financing activities carried out by local governments with the participation of European funds. The findings indicated a systematic dependence of income provinces of external transfers with a decline in own revenues and gradually increasing their dependence on personal income tax. This in turn is a sign of declining of financial independence. Outlined trends and relationships are not a good predictor of the future, because endogenous development potential of the regions systematically decreases. Added to this there is a systematic indebtedness of the public finance sector. Applying for funding in the new 2014–2020 term may be much more difficult than in the past, and in many cases impossible. There is also a real danger of addiction current operations provinces of external transfers as in European funds.