Monika Płaziak

Construction Sector in the Czech Republic and Poland: Focus on the Housing Segment in Selected Regions

The paper presents a comparative analysis of the construction sector in the Czech Republic and Poland, with a particular focus on the housing segment in selected regions. The authors compared the size and growth ofthe housing segment. To achieve the purpose, spatial and dynamic analyses of the construction sector indicators were conducted, with a particular emphasis on the housing segment (i.e. growth of construction sectorproduction, completed dwellings per 1000 inhabitants). In global economic crisis, the construction production fluctuation displayed a similar trend for both countries, with the worst indicators reported in 2010 and 2011. The main analysis focused on the dwelling segment. The Czech Republic reported a negative growth (-2.4%) in the number of completed dwellings in the period, while Poland reported a positive growth of 32.6%. Analysed countries differ regarding the construction industry output, which depends on the different population potential and uneven distribution of construction projects, particularly in the housing segment. Nonetheless, a common tendency was observed in the housing segment showing an intensified growth in the output in the areas that hadseen fewer investment projects. Comparison of the construction sector status and development in selected regions of the Czech Republic and Poland can be helpful to entrepreneurs, investors and employees from both countries in recognizing a potential demand for dwellings.

Regres czy rozwój lokalnej działalności handlowo-usługowej w najstarszej części Nowej Huty?

The article contains the results of the research conducted during the period of 2014 to 2016 in the Nowa Huta district, in Krakow. This area consists of 25 residential areas inhabited by almost 50 thousand people. The research concerned the functioning of commerce and services in Nowa Huta, from both the consumers’ and entrepreneurs’ point of view. During the research an interview among 2,200 consumers and 112 entrepreneurs was conducted. Also an inventory of approximately 500 unit of entrepreneurs was made. The factors which have effect on regression or development of the commerce and services in Nowa Huta were identified. These factors were divided into two groups: the first group was based on the demographical and social conditions, the second group was based on the market surroundings when it comes to both the micro and macro economical point of view. The results of the survey stated an important influence of the local aging society and its financial state, when it concerns preferences for places of purchasing. At the beginning of the transformation a lot of shops of elevated quality and services in Nowa Huta disappeared or changed their type of activities. The additional factor of this regression was the consequence of investments of foreign capital observed through the emergence of hyperand supermarkets, discount stores, pharmacies, banks and selling points for phone services. These types of activities, according to the survey, caused the crisis of local businesses. This tendency appears not to affect the two big marketplaces – Bienczycki Market Place (Bienczycki Plac Targowy) and Trade Centre “Tomex” (CH „Tomex”) which are traditionally connected to Nowa Huta. These are places not only meant for purchasing goods but also for social meeting especially among the elder inhabitants.

Operation of Small Businesses in Open-Air Markets in Poland Based on the Example of Kraków

Open-air markets are traditionally associated with the landscape of Polish towns and cities. In the beginning, they were in the very centre of the city – most often in the market around which the lives of the locals and the newcomers concentrated. With the development of urban areas, open-air markets were moved out of the city centre. They were transformed, though for a long time, also after the Second World War, they were the place of trade primarily in agricultural and craft products. During the People’s Republic of Poland, citizens were given the opportunity to buy goods not available in stores. Open-air market places gained a new meaning at the beginning of the socio-political transformation after 1989. They became the places of flourishing small businesses and were less and less associated with the sale of agricultural products and more and more with diverse assortments such as any groceries, clothing, chemicals and cosmetics. At present, in the period of the global economy, which in urban areas is typically expressed through the diminishing of the local economy related to small businesses in favour of the global economy introducing supermarkets, hypermarkets and chain outlets, the functioning of open-air markets takes place in the conditions of increased competition. It consists in particular in price competition and competition in the form of a large assortment of goods in stores mentioned above. As shown in the article, also entrepreneurs conducting business activity at the open-air markets in Krakow feel this competition. It manifests itself in the lack of a sense of stabilisation of small businesses. A large group of the surveyed entrepreneurs are also unable to sustain themselves only from this activity.

Preferencje i zachowania konsumentów w centrach handlowych w Polsce na przykładzie Krakowa

Social and economic changes that occurred after 1989 contributed to the market economy development and thus the unfettered creation and withdrawal from the market of business entities which are private properties. Initially, mainly small private trade enterprises were formed, in which Polish capital prevailed. But the traits that characterised the Polish market in the 1990s, i.e. a large consumer demand, the lack of large national capital specialised in commercial activities, favourable tax laws, low purchase prices, lease of real estate and the availability of skilled labour were the incentive s for foreign trade enterprises to invest in the development of hypermarkets in Poland. Foreign trade enterprises dispose the large capital and modern management team which has contributed to the rapid development of this trade form. As a result, in Poland, a large number of commercial buildings (WHO) were created with an area of more than 400 sq m, such as discount stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets, as well as trading houses and shopping centres, characterised by a large area of sales and a wide range of diverse goods of various types. Currently, they form an important element of urban space and at the same time a serious competition for other retail forms. The opportunities provided by the WHO, ie. a wide range of products and services, sales and tasting, large parking lots and gas stations, as well as many different outlets located within the shopping complex, effectively attract customers. This paper focuses mainly on the analysis of shopping centres operating in Poland, with particular emphasis on those located in Krakow. A shopping centre was defined as “commercial real estate, which was planned, built and managed as a single entity, consisting of shops and common parts, with a minimum leasable area of 5 thousand sq m (GLA) and containing at least 10 stores” (Mikolajczyk, 2009: 138–139). The aim of this study was to identify the preferences of consumers in terms of their choice of shopping areas and their declarations related to the use of the additional functionality offered by the surveyed entities of commercial premises, as well as the identification of the non-trade concerns function of the shopping centres, which are particularly interested in the potential consumers. In the article, the characteristics of the profile of the consumer declaring the choice of the mall as a place for shopping and leisure was also dealt with.The inference was based on an analysis of the literature and the results of a direct research conducted by the authors of the study. As a research tool the survey questionnaire was used. The studies involved a total of 1,756 respondents who were mostly residents of Krakow and selected by random method.Social and economic changes that occurred after 1989 contributed to the market economy development and thus the unfettered creation and withdrawal from the market of business entities which are private properties. Initially, mainly small private trade enterprises were formed, in which Polish capital prevailed. But the traits that characterised the Polish market in the 1990s, i.e. a large consumer demand, the lack of large national capital specialised in commercial activities, favourable tax laws, low purchase prices, lease of real estate and the availability of skilled labour were the incentive s for foreign trade enterprises to invest in the development of hypermarkets in Poland. Foreign trade enterprises dispose the large capital and modern management team which has contributed to the rapid development of this trade form. As a result, in Poland, a large number of commercial buildings (WHO) were created with an area of more than 400 sq m, such as discount stores, supermarkets and hypermarkets, as well as trading houses and shopping centres, characterised by a large area of sales and a wide range of diverse goods of various types. Currently, they form an important element of urban space and at the same time a serious competition for other retail forms. The opportunities provided by the WHO, ie. a wide range of products and services, sales and tasting, large parking lots and gas stations, as well as many different outlets located within the shopping complex, effectively attract customers. This paper focuses mainly on the analysis of shopping centres operating in Poland, with particular emphasis on those located in Krakow. A shopping centre was defined as “commercial real estate, which was planned, built and managed as a single entity, consisting of shops and common parts, with a minimum leasable area of 5 thousand sq m (GLA) and containing at least 10 stores” (Mikolajczyk, 2009: 138–139). The aim of this study was to identify the preferences of consumers in terms of their choice of shopping areas and their declarations related to the use of the additional functionality offered by the surveyed entities of commercial premises, as well as the identification of the non-trade concerns function of the shopping centres, which are particularly interested in the potential consumers. In the article, the characteristics of the profile of the consumer declaring the choice of the mall as a place for shopping and leisure was also dealt with.The inference was based on an analysis of the literature and the results of a direct research conducted by the authors of the study. As a research tool the survey questionnaire was used. The studies involved a total of 1,756 respondents who were mostly residents of Krakow and selected by random method.

Czynniki warunkujące atrakcyjność dokonywania zakupów na placach targowych Krakowa

In the article authors present the diagnosis of consumer preferences in terms of the most popular shopping destinations, categorized according to the forms of trade. Also there is an indication of the factors of the choice of markets as a place of purchases. For that purpose, the research was carried out with the use of a questionnaire interview. The research concerned 22 markets located in Cracow. The survey was conducted in the indicated places of the city – widely attended and characterized by a considerable proximity to the markets. 502 respondents took part in the survey. In the majority they were residents of Cracow.The obtained results allow to presume that the main premise accompanying purchases at the markets are two factors: the health aspect (megatrend of the consumers’ behavior as a growing focus on healthy diet) as well as the economic aspect. Consumers at markets look for fresh, healthy, non-wholesale produced, but also cheap products.

Lokalizacja ośrodków kontroli i zarządzania elementem stabilności gospodarczej ośrodków miejskich w Europie Środkowo-Wschodniej

This study takes into account the most important companies that have their head office in Central and Eastern Europe. The authors try to answer the question of how the city’s position will change due to deep crisis of the dominant sector in the city. The stability index was created, based on economic results achieved by individual corporations and their sectoral diversity. It illustrates the economic stability of urban centers in the case of global fluctuations. The most resistant to the crisis proved to Warsaw, Prague and Budapest. Impact on the location of the most resilient cities is the distance from the EU-15 and the political influence of the Soviet Union is visible in the region in 1945–1990 and the armed conflict in the former Yugoslavia. In addition, the cities studied despite having a small impact on the global economy are characterized by a fairly large international connections.

„Przedsiębiorczy region” – zarys koncepcji w świetle analizy roli przedsiębiorczości w krajowej strategii rozwoju regionalnego

Development of entrepreneurial attitudes in the society and entrepreneurship as an expressionof activity of entrepreneurs and managers of companies is considered as a particularly importantfactor of the socio-economic development of regions, particularly in countries, which transformtheir economies. Entrepreneurship plays its role mostly in accelerating the economic growth, generatingpulses to the structural transformation of regional economy and alleviating the consequencesof structural unemployment through self-employment of the unemployed. In this context, it is importantto ask about the place of entrepreneurship in regional development strategies. The subjectof the article is to present the results of analysis of the Polish National Strategy of Regional Development2010−2020: Regions, Cities, Rural Areas with respect of having provisions related to entrepreneurshipas an important factor stimulating the regional development. Against the backgroundof results of the analysis, the authors attempted to outline the concept of “entrepreneurial region”.

Sektor budowlany w Polsce ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem budownictwa mieszkaniowego oraz sytuacji mieszkaniowej w województwie małopolskim

W opracowaniu dokonano analizy stanu sektora budowlanego w Polsce w ujeciu calościowym i regionalnym, ze szczegolnym uwzglednieniem wojewodztwa malopolskiego. Dodatkowy akcent polozono na sytuacje budownictwa mieszkaniowego. Analiza budownictwa mieszkaniowego dotyczyla lat 2006–2012, obejmujących okres bezpośrednio poprzedzający światowy kryzys gospodarczy, a takze jego pierwsze fazy. W artykule stwierdzono opoźnione reagowanie sektora budowlanego na kryzys. Ponadto zauwazono, iz kryzys dotknąl roznych dzialow tego sektora w roznym stopniu. Najbardziej dotkliwy okazal sie dla budownictwa mieszkaniowego. Mimo to w ciągu dwoch ostatnich dekad zaobserwowano w tym dziale korzystne tendencje dotyczące wzrostu liczby i powierzchni mieszkan oddawanych do uzytkowania, przy czym zaznacza sie tendencja do wzmozonej dynamiki oddawanych mieszkan na terenach dotychczas najslabiej zainwestowanych w tym zakresie, zarowno w skali regionalnej, jak i lokalnej. Jednakze Polske nadal charakteryzuje przepelnienie mieszkan ludnością, a wojewodztwo malopolskie plasuje sie pod tym wzgledem ponizej średniej krajowej.W opracowaniu dokonano analizy stanu sektora budowlanego w Polsce w ujeciu calościowym i regionalnym, ze szczegolnym uwzglednieniem wojewodztwa malopolskiego. Dodatkowy akcent polozono na sytuacje budownictwa mieszkaniowego. Analiza budownictwa mieszkaniowego dotyczyla lat 2006–2012, obejmujących okres bezpośrednio poprzedzający światowy kryzys gospodarczy, a takze jego pierwsze fazy. W artykule stwierdzono opoźnione reagowanie sektora budowlanego na kryzys. Ponadto zauwazono, iz kryzys dotknąl roznych dzialow tego sektora w roznym stopniu. Najbardziej dotkliwy okazal sie dla budownictwa mieszkaniowego. Mimo to w ciągu dwoch ostatnich dekad zaobserwowano w tym dziale korzystne tendencje dotyczące wzrostu liczby i powierzchni mieszkan oddawanych do uzytkowania, przy czym zaznacza sie tendencja do wzmozonej dynamiki oddawanych mieszkan na terenach dotychczas najslabiej zainwestowanych w tym zakresie, zarowno w skali regionalnej, jak i lokalnej. Jednakze Polske nadal charakteryzuje przepelnienie mieszkan ludnością, a wojewodztwo malopolskie plasuje sie pod tym wzgledem ponizej średniej krajowej.

Klasyczne czynniki w procesie lokalizacji przedsiębiorstwa na wybranych przykładach

This article is focused on the classical factors relating to a location and its importance in the process of choosing a convenient location for an enterprise. The leading classical theories were described in Spatial Management by A.Weber, A. Lӧsch, A. Predohl and others. They concentrate on the traditional factors concerning a location, such as transport, labour cost, availability of raw materials or proximity to them. The paper offers an attempt to analyse the significance of factors influencing a decision-making process used by the contemporary entrepreneurs in connection with the location of their businesses. These analyses draw on results of direct marketing research on a sample of more than a dozen enterprises from the construction sector. The authors believe that, although the first theories on a location date back to 19th century, the classical factors affecting a location continue to be valid and important. If neglected in the decision-making process, they may contribute to a business failure in a longer run.

Distribution and Activity Growth of Industrial and Construction Sectors in Małopolska Region

The paper analyses spatial and dynamic activity of Malopolska Region inhabitants in the industrial and construction sectors on the basis of employment and entrepreneurial activity in these sectors. The years 2006–2011 showed a positive trend for the activity in both sectors, while the performance of the construction sector was significantly better. For comparison for Poland situation was different – the dynamics of employment and entrepreneurial activity in the industry were adverse. As for Poland, entrepreneurial activity in the construction sector intensified, in relative terms, and was relatively high, and substantially higher in the Malopolska Region. Note that a geographic increase in the entrepreneurial attitudes of residents is not followed by any intensified entrepreneurial activity in the construction sector. To the contrary, a reverse trend was observed: the poviats reporting intensive entrepreneurial activity reported a relatively low share of the construction sector and vice versa – the share was rather high in areas reporting the entrepreneurial indicator at its low. Research shows that only a few poviats reported visible unfavourable trends. These are Dąbrowski and Miechowski poviats, which reported a major drop in the number of the employed both in general and specifically in the industrial and construction sector. However, these poviats, considered underdeveloped when compared to the rest of the Region, reported a positive growth of entrepreneurial activity, both in the industry and construction sector, while a downward trend in entrepreneurial activity in the industry was reported in the Suski Poviat as well in more economically advanced and industrialized poviats: Wadowicki and Krakow, what reflects a general national trend.