The conducted empirical studies have served to characterise coopetition occurring between communities in Polish metropolitan areas. The study covered 345 self-government units and cities in 8 metropolitan areas in Poland. One of the examined aspects of coopetition was the benefits of separate competition and cooperation. Responses obtained from 137 representatives of the highest authorities of local government units were used for the purposes of comparative analysis of the benefits of both competition and cooperation. Questionnaire survey was used to gather empirical data.

Data gathered from the representatives of local government units in Polish metropolitan areas demonstrate that the average level of cooperation benefits is higher than the level of competition benefits. The obtained results show that cooperation is much more often used as an approach in the relationships shaping among local government units within metropolitan areas in Poland. Most of the researched units declared a high level of cooperation, which is connected with participation in expected benefits—mostly connected with the improvement of the units’ effectiveness (e.g. public utility services, investment in infrastructure).

Cooperation and competition among local government units within metropolitan areas, as well as their benefits, are strictly connected with the features of the researched unit—its type, location, affiliation and number of inhabitants. Future research should focus on the significance of cooperation and competition benefits as one of the factors determining the relational strategies within metropolitan areas.

Introduction

The dynamic development of metropolitan areas in Poland and the whole European Union in the last 25 years has contributed to the accumulation of high quality resources: physical, human and organisational which can be considered as a source of competitive advantage.