Spatial differentiation of supply and demand for consumer services in Poland - in search of potential markets

Abstract

This paper strives to analyse the mutual relationships between supply and demand for services in Poland. The study focuses on the current stage of development of consumer services in Poland, using the example of retail trade. The basic questions it aims to answer concern the visible differences in the supply and demand for services at the local level (poviats/ counties), areas with a relative shortage (surplus) of service supply, as well as factors that could explain the relative attractiveness of certain areas in this respect. On the supply side, empirical analysis is based on a set of data concerning the number of retail outlets and the sales area, while on the demand side we analyse variables that could be used to determine an overall level of expenditure incurred by households (potential demand). The final part of the paper provides an analysis of socioeconomic characteristics that could explain why some of the poviats discussed show a surplus or a deficit of trade outlets