Potential of informal practices in the municipal government system

The article discusses the role of informal practices in the municipal management system. The author suggests an original definition of the informal practice concept in the context of the municipal administration system. The paper presents a sociological analysis of the informal practices phenomenon on the basis of the author's social study conducted in March-May 2015 with application of the method of questionnaire of Belgorod region municipal employees, as well as interviewing the heads of municipal entities. The author defines the factors favouring the spread of informal practices. Their potential is justified.