Municipal Investment Management – a Comparative Analysis of Decision-making in Gdańsk and Edinburgh
Municipal Investment Management – a Comparative Analysis of Decision-making in Gdańsk and Edinburgh

Summary/Abstract: Municipalities are the owners of diverse, valuable and capital–intensive assets which require strategic and operational management. The management requires decision–making relating to the use, maintenance but also the development of the multifunctional assets. The aim of the research is to identify and compare the investment related decision–making in two local governments – Edinburgh in Scotland and Gdańsk in Poland. The aim is addressed by taking an in-depth look at the two selected cities around four specific “key themes” relating to strategy, organisation, portfolio and financing to find out about the practice of municipal investment decision–making processes. The work is novel in terms of providing insights into municipal investment management in the specific key themes. Similarities and differences in the key themes have been identified for the municipalities which confirm the diversity of municipalities and municipal investment management. In a narrow sense, the differences depend on the purpose, durability and functions of investment; in a broad sense – on public management organisational fluctuations, tradition, achievements and historical aspect. The confrontation of two different approaches of municipal investment management is useful for public managers looking for the best practice, effectiveness and efficiency improvement. However, additional analysis of other cases should be performed to confirm the findings on improving investment decision–making by local governments.

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