The quality of life is largely determined by the immediate surroundings, related to the place of residence. In this respect, the key role in ensuring appropriate conditions and improving the quality of life lies with municipal (including city) governments. The possibilities and scope of activities of local government authorities depend on many factors, among which financial resources play an important role, thanks to which it is possible not only to maintain, but also to develop, for example, infrastructure or the scope and quality of public services provided. An increasingly observed phenomenon (not only in Poland) is the decline in population, the reasons for which are, among others, unfavorable demographic trends, economic emigration and internal migration. This results in a significant reduction in the so-called tax base, resulting in a reduction in the revenues of local government units. This, in turn, not only limits development opportunities, but also causes a significant increase in the costs of maintaining infrastructure or providing services per capita.

In our conditions, this phenomenon is particularly visible in medium-sized cities, where we can talk about the phenomenon of negative defunctionalization, i.e. a situation of permanent loss of the cities’ ability to perform their functions and deterioration of the socio-economic situation. In the report of the Institute of Geography and Spatial Development named after S. Leszczyński of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) identified a set of 64 cities (out of 255 so-called medium-sized cities) at risk of losing their functions. However, these units are very diverse both in terms of population (from 15,000 to over 200,000) and the scope of actions taken to marginalize the effects of population loss and, most importantly, the effects of the actions taken.

The main goal of the study is to develop a model to explain the interdependence between the type of urban leadership and strategies for adjusting (evolution) the role, function and scope of operation of depopulating cities using the “actor in action” theory. The research problem underlying the project is the search for interdependencies between types of urban leadership and adaptation strategies of medium-sized cities in the face of the phenomenon of negative defunctionalization. The theoretical model developed on this basis will constitute the basis for further theoretical and empirical work in the field of analysis and design of public policies at the local government level and the role of local actors in these activities. To achieve the project’s goal, quantitative and qualitative research will be carried out covering 20 cities at risk of permanent loss of functions. As part of qualitative research, it is planned to conduct, among others, approximately 100 interviews with key actors of local political, social and economic life. Quantitative research will allow for determining the degree of differentiation of cities affected by this phenomenon, verifying the effects of the undertaken action strategies and verifying the theoretical model. The issue of cities that have lost their functions and are experiencing a deterioration of their socio-economic situation has not been addressed by Polish researchers based on the institutional perspective. Searching for a model combining the type of urban leadership and the leaders’ action strategies in relation to the above-mentioned issues. cities is an original and innovative approach.

Team members: dr Jarosław Bober (Assistant Professor), dr Michał Żabiński (Assistant Professor), dr Magdalena Jelonek (Assistant Professor)