Geography of socio-economic differentiation of Poland according to subregions in 2002-2014

Abstract

The paper focuses on the territorial differentiation of socio-economic development of Poland between the years 2002-2014 and on geographic patterns of this differentiation according to the subregions (‘podregiony’ in Polish, NUTS 3 level). Eight partial indicators entering the composite indicator and also the average base index are applied. The analysis of the socio-economic development of the subregions along the directional east-west gradient, rural-urban concentric gradients (around big cities) and the zones of subre-gions along the border of Poland with the surrounding countries are used to explain the observed differentiation. Polish subregions have undergone considerable development between 2002 and 2014, but the territorial differentiation of their development has changed only partially. The big Polish cities and also their suburban subregions have the best position of all; the worst are still the rural subregions of eastern Poland and the inner peripheries of Poland. The directional east-west gradient, the rural-urban concen-tric gradients, as well as the higher development of subregions at German, Czech and sea borders were confirmed.