About the Department

Head of Department: dr hab. Łukasz Poławski, Professor at Krakow University of Economics

Department Secretariat: M.A. Katarzyna Michalska, office 707, phone: +48 (12) 293 53 69

The Department of Public Finance (before Department of Local Government Finance) was established as a result of the separation from the Department of Finance in the academic year 2011. Since 1 October 2025, the head of the Department has been Dr hab. Łukasz Popławski, Professor at the University of Economics in Krakow.

The research activities undertaken by the Department’s staff focus on the functioning of the public finance sector in Poland and globally. Their research analyses elements of the public finance system, such as entities, instruments, institutions, and legal regulations. In particular, the Department’s researchers analyse the functioning of the local government subsector, analysing the financing system of local government units. Their research also focuses on issues related to: the limits of local government debt, local taxes and fees, opportunities for raising funds, and the implementation of performance budgeting. These areas of research interest encompass both Poland and other countries.
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History of the Department

Financial sciences have been present at the University since its establishment in 1925, although at that time they did not function within a separate organisational unit. A distinct unit devoted to this discipline was first created in 1947 under the name Treasury Department, headed by Prof. Stefan Bolland. In 1949, two additional departments were established: Banking I and Banking II.

Following the transformation of the Academy of Commerce into the University of Economics in 1950, these three departments were consolidated into the Department of Finance and Credit, which in 1958 was renamed the Department of Finance. In 1950, the Department was headed by Prof. Feliks Młynarski, while in the years 1951–1969 this function was performed by Prof. Stefan Bolland. In 1968, the Department of Finance was reorganised into the Institute of Finance. Prof. Stefan Bolland served as director of the Institute until 1972, and from 1972 to 1989 the position was held by Prof. Roman Domaszewicz. From 1989, i.e. from the retirement of Prof. Roman Domaszewicz, until the closure of the Institute of Finance in 1992, the function of director was performed by Prof. Franciszek Skalniak. Since 1993, Prof. Stanisław Owsiak has headed the Department of Finance at the University of Economics, and from the 2007/2008 academic year, at the University of Economics in Krakow. Prof. Stanisław Owsiak headed the department until 2016.

In 2011, the Department of Local Government Finance was separated from the Department of Finance at the Cracow University of Economics. From the beginning, the Department has been headed by Prof. Maria Kosek-Wojnar. Since October 2016, the Department has been headed by Prof. Krzysztof Surówka. In the 2019/2020 academic year, the Department of Local Government Finance was renamed the Department of Public Finance. Prof. Krzysztof Surówka remained the Department’s Head and held this position until September 2025. Since October 2025, the Department’s Head is Prof. Łukasz Popławski, PhD.