For the Game, for the Loyal Partisans: Distribution of Sport
Grants in Slovakia

J 2016

For the Game, for the Loyal Partisans: Distribution of Sport Grants in Slovakia

SPÁČ, Peter

Basic information

Original name

For the Game, for the Loyal Partisans: Distribution of Sport Grants in Slovakia

Authors

SPÁČ, Peter (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Central European Journal of Public Policy, CESES FSV UK, 2016, 1802-4866

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

50601 Political science

Country of publisher

Czech Republic

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14230/16:00088044

Organization unit

Faculty of Social Studies

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/cejpp-2016-0020

Keywords in English

Distribution; public resources; sport; pork barrel politics; government

Abstract

V originále

Distribution of resources is at the core of politics. Although this activity is primarily economic in nature, the existing research shows that political representatives often use the allocation of public money to reward their allies at the expense of their rivals. This paper analyses a 2015 governmental programme of local sport grants in Slovakia that aimed to build sport facilities for children and young people. In order to avoid any political bias, the programme was established as a neutral mechanism with an anonymous evaluation of grant requests. The results of analysis, however, provide substantial evidence that the subsidies were given primarily to towns with closer political ties to the government while municipalities led by mayors from the opposition were nearly fully ignored. In addition, the presented social and economic aims of the funding programme were not effectively pursued. The paper thus represents a valuable contribution to the discussion of distributive politics, in general, as it shows that, despite the respective legal framework, the allocation of resources may still end up as a process fuelled by partisan interests.

Links

GA15-22754S, research and development project

Name: Kvalita demokracie: Česká republika v komparativní perspektivě

Investor: Czech Science Foundation

Citovat

SPÁČ, Peter. For the Game, for the Loyal Partisans: Distribution of Sport Grants in Slovakia. Central European Journal of Public Policy. CESES FSV UK, 2016, vol. 10, No 1, p. 12-21. ISSN 1802-4866. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/cejpp-2016-0020.

@article{1350438,
   author = {Spáč, Peter},
   article_number = {1},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/cejpp-2016-0020},
   keywords = {Distribution; public resources; sport; pork barrel politics; government},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1802-4866},
   journal = {Central European Journal of Public Policy},
   title = {For the Game, for the Loyal Partisans: Distribution of Sport Grants in Slovakia},
   volume = {10},
   year = {2016}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1350438
AU  - Spáč, Peter
PY  - 2016
TI  - For the Game, for the Loyal Partisans: Distribution of Sport Grants in Slovakia
JF  - Central European Journal of Public Policy
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
SP  - 12-21
EP  - 12-21
PB  - CESES FSV UK
SN  - 18024866
KW  - Distribution
KW  - public resources
KW  - sport
KW  - pork barrel politics
KW  - government
N2  - Distribution of resources is at the core of politics. Although this activity is primarily economic in nature, the existing research shows that political representatives often use the allocation of public money to reward their allies at the expense of their rivals. This paper analyses a 2015 governmental programme of local sport grants in Slovakia that aimed to build sport facilities for children and young people. In order to avoid any political bias, the programme was established as a neutral mechanism with an anonymous evaluation of grant requests. The results of analysis, however, provide substantial evidence that the subsidies were given primarily to towns with closer political ties to the government while municipalities led by mayors from the opposition were nearly fully ignored. In addition, the presented social and economic aims of the funding programme were not effectively pursued. The paper thus represents a valuable contribution to the discussion of distributive politics, in general, as it shows that, despite the respective legal framework, the allocation of resources may still end up as a process fuelled by partisan interests.
ER  -

SPÁČ, Peter. For the Game, for the Loyal Partisans: Distribution of Sport Grants in Slovakia. \textit{Central European Journal of Public Policy}. CESES FSV UK, 2016, vol.~10, No~1, p.~12-21. ISSN~1802-4866. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/cejpp-2016-0020.

Detailed Information on Publication Record