Piotr Trzepacz

Spatial Distribution of EU Structural Funds in Poland in 2004-2006 - Factors, Directions, and Limitations

Spatial Distribution of EU Structural Funds in Poland in 2004-2006 - Factors, Directions, and Limitations In 2004, Poland joined the European Union. This access means the possibility of taking advantage of European Union Structural Funds. Apart from this the structural funds play another important role. The popularity of the idea of European integration in countries like Poland depends largely on the effectiveness of this financial support, which theoretically should lead to economic and social development on different levels (local, regional, national, and even continental). The main problem of relying on EU funds is their unequal availability, which is limited, for example, because of the granting principles.

Przemiany funkcji handlowych i usługowych centrum dzielnicy mieszkaniowej na przykładzie Krakowa-Nowej Huty

Nowa Huta, which was founded in 1949 as a separate town, after 2 years was incorporated to Krakow, becoming one of its districts. In the very beginning, as intended by the planners, the centre of Nowa Huta was created around Plac Centralny. Alongside the centre of Cracow, it is the most recognizable centre (district centre) of the city. In the socialist period Nowa Huta, being a component of Cracow, gave its residents the feeling of autonomy, mainly due to the role of a nearby steelworks which played an important part in meeting their needs. In the period of the social-economic transformation the role of the factory was significantly reduced. The district fell into an economic and social crisis. At the same time, spatial and social integration of the district with the rest of the city became stronger. It was observed that Nowa Huta, particularly in its central part, was experiencing a crisis of local commercial and service functions. Previously unique functions of the centre started to devaluate. In spite of the onset of revitalization of the place we are observing a systematic disappearance of the central functions of the area, although, it functions as the centre of Nowa Huta in terms of urban layout and in the awereness of the inhabitants and other users. Discussed phenomena of the declining functions of this part of the district should be of great priority for policy makers undertaking the issues related to the development of the city.Nowa Huta, which was founded in 1949 as a separate town, after 2 years was incorporated to Krakow, becoming one of its districts. In the very beginning, as intended by the planners, the centre of Nowa Huta was created around Plac Centralny. Alongside the centre of Cracow, it is the most recognizable centre (district centre) of the city. In the socialist period Nowa Huta, being a component of Cracow, gave its residents the feeling of autonomy, mainly due to the role of a nearby steelworks which played an important part in meeting their needs. In the period of the social-economic transformation the role of the factory was significantly reduced. The district fell into an economic and social crisis. At the same time, spatial and social integration of the district with the rest of the city became stronger. It was observed that Nowa Huta, particularly in its central part, was experiencing a crisis of local commercial and service functions. Previously unique functions of the centre started to devaluate. In spite of the onset of revitalization of the place we are observing a systematic disappearance of the central functions of the area, although, it functions as the centre of Nowa Huta in terms of urban layout and in the awereness of the inhabitants and other users. Discussed phenomena of the declining functions of this part of the district should be of great priority for policy makers undertaking the issues related to the development of the city.

Connecting airports with cities. Perspectives of air-rail links development in central Europe

Air travel has increased rapidly in Central Europe in the first decade of the 21st century thanks to the admission of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia to the European Union and the liberalization of their air travel market. Rapid increase in th

Entrepreneurship of Inhabitants vs. Economic Activity of Large and Medium Enterprises in Rural Areas of Selected Historical Regions of Poland

Entrepreneurship of Inhabitants vs. Economic Activity of Large and Medium Enterprises in Rural Areas of Selected Historical Regions of Poland In the past historical periods, each particular region of Poland was developing -- in a sense -- as separate organism; some of them were achieving a relative rise in the economic hierarchy, whereas some other were plunging in backwardness. These disparities have remained very distinctive until today, especially between the rural areas of different parts of the country. The aim of this paper is to determine diversifications of economic development level in four selected regions of Poland (Little Poland -- pol. Małopolska, West Pomerania, Lower Silesia and the Lublin Region), measured as the localisation range and characteristics of big and medium enterprises in rural areas. Another objective was to observe the relation between localisation and characteristics of those enterprises and the general initiative of local inhabitants. The analyses carried out for this paper have served to create a typology of communes, depending on the number of workplaces in big and medium enterprises in this areas, as well as the general initiative of inhabitants, which then enabled the assessment of economic disparities between rural areas of selected Polish regions.