Stefania Środa-Murawska

Germany - Two Demographically Different States?

Germany - Two Demographically Different States? The paper is an attempt of an answer how belonging to different political, economical and cultural structures has influenced diverse population processes and structures and their spatial diversity. As an example to the research of these phenomena there was chosen Germany that until 1990 were two separated socio-political and economical formations (the German Democratic Republic (GDR) and the Federal Republic of Germany FRG). This state, with a population number about 82 millions presently, as it turns out - besides passage of time - is characterized all the time by some diversity of procreation behaviors, population processes and structures in the Eastern (Ost) and the Western part (West) of Germany. It is claimed, the structures are going to some similarities, but the 15 years period (1990-2005) was too short to level all stated demographical differences and trends (1).

The Intensification of Foreign Trade in Post-Socialist Countries and Their Role in Global Value Chains

This article presents the transformation of foreign trade in 10 post-socialist countries, current members of the EU. Special focus is given to the more significant role these countries began to play in global value chains (GVCs) as a result of liberalisation processes and integration within the EU. In addition, the article evaluates their place in global vertical specialisation. To locate each country on a global value chain and to compare them with selected countries, more complex methods of measuring the level of participation of European post-socialist countries in GVCs were employed. These methods allow the position of a country downstream or upstream in GVCs to be established. We concluded that (a) post-socialist countries differ in the levels of their participation in GVCs. Countries that have stronger links with Western European countries, especially with Germany, are more integrated; (b) a large share of post-socialist countries’ exports pass through Western European GVCs; (c) most exporters in Central and Eastern Europe are positioned in downstream segments of production rather than upstream markets.

The concentration of the creative sector firms as a potential basis for the formation of creative clusters in Poland

Abstract The study aims to present the structure and analyse the distribution of economic activities comprising the creative sector (covering 10 sections of PKD 2007 - the Polish Classification of Activities based on NACE rev. 2 - the Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community) of the Polish economy in the context of the potential basis for the formation of creative clusters in Poland. The study concentrates on the numbers of creative firms based in all 3,076 Polish gminas (306 urban gminas, 1,576 rural gminas and 597 urban-rural gminas; in the latter, 597 urban areas and 597 rural areas are considered separately). As found, most of the firms are involved in architectural and engineering activities; technical testing and analysis (M 71) and other professional, scientific and technical activities (M 74). It has also been established that some local incubators of the potential clusters of creative industries form eight distinct centres, the most prominent of which is the Warszawa centre. The identification of areas with higher concentrations of creative firms has demonstrated that in Poland, like in western countries, creative firms tend to locate in large cities (Warszawa, Kraków, Poznań, Wrocław and Tri-City) and in the regions around them.

Evaluation of trends in foreign trade development in the post-communist countries of Europe in the years 2000–2012 following their accession to the EU

Abstract This paper seeks to analyse directions in foreign trade in the post-communist countries of Europe over the years 2000-2012 in the context of changes observed in other EU states. It was assumed that changes in the directions of foreign trade in post-communist states would be similar to those noted in Western Europe. On the basis of data derived from the OECD, EUROSTAT and OECD-WTO we show that the trading rules used by the old EU-15 adopted by those countries have brought them measurable benefits. As a result, the post-communist economies have become similar to those of the EU-15. Considering the structure of their trade and links with the EU-15, it is apparent that they have become the main trading and investment partners for the European Union. Hence, their integration with the EU structures made their development faster, but also made them more sensitive to industrial and demand shocks coming from the eurozone. It is predicted that the present model is not going to change, especially in the context of the participation in production networks.

Internal Migration in Germany in 1990 And 2005

Internal Migration in Germany in 1990 And 2005 The article seeks to answer the questions concerning the possibility of identifying regular patterns within internal migration in the towns and rural areas of the Federal Republic of Germany as well as factors contributing to regional variations in the process. The research involves 439 German counties (Kreise) and compares data on internal migration in the country in the years 1991 and 2005, i.e. from its reunification until the year 2005. The 15-year period of functioning of one reunited state has been assumed sufficient for capturing some regularities and trends.

Peri-Urban Development as a Significant Rural Development Trend

Abstract The paper focuses on demographic and social changes caused by peri-urban development in rural areas in Latvia, Poland, and Germany after the system transformation began. The article analyses peri-urban development as a mostly rural phenomenon, and as a process of rural displacement. Rural development interacts with urban influences, changing the role and functions of rural areas. This is reflected by a departure from agricultural functions, more intensive construction activities and changes in land use. This also includes intensive socio-demographic and socio-cultural changes. Simultaneously there are significant population inflows, both urban and rural (from more peripheral rural areas), an increase in population density, changes of population structure etc. The paper shows that peri-urban development as a general rural trend began later in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe (after the transformation) than in Western Europe, but the processes and phenomena presently observed in Eastern and Western Europe are similar.

European Union funds in the development of renewable energy sources in Poland in the context of the cohesion policy

The paper aims at determining the role played by funds from the European Union in the development of renewable energy sources in Poland in the context of European Union cohesion policy. We have derived data from the official European Funds Portal for the size of projects and the financial support obtained from the European Union for the use of a specific renewable energy source. We have analyzed all (928) projects related to hydro- and geothermal energy, biomass (together with biogas), wind, and solar energy implemented in all 16 voivodships (administrative regions of the second order, NUTS 2). It must be mentioned that, in the programming period 2007–2013, the available European Union funds made it possible to obtain the largest support for all investments in renewable energy sources in Poland so far. The total value of the projects co-financed from these funds has amounted to 2 billion euro. Analyzing the value of investments in technologies based on varied renewable energy sources, an evident disproportion in either the size of particular installations or the costs of investments is observed. We demonstrate that large wind farms constitute more than 60% of the total value of investments in renewable sources subsided by the European Union. Small projects have also been subsided, but mainly those related to solar energy. Generally, the wind energy investments are established in northern and western parts of Poland, including Zachodniopomorskie, Pomorskie, Dolnośląskie, and Łódzkie voivodships, while the solar energy investments are found in the eastern and southern parts of Poland.

REVITALIZATION AS A PART OF THE EU COHESION POLICY

Annotation The aim of the paper is the general characterization of the process of the revitalization in Polish cities in the context of the EU cohesion policy on the example of Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship. The research has been conducted on the basis of data derived from the official websites of the Regional Operational Program of Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodship 2007-2013 and data obtained from the website of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Development where all projects co-financed from the UE have been currently upgraded and monitored. From database, which contained more than six thousand projects implemented under the Cohesion Policy in Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodship, 222 projects related to the revitalization have been analyzed. In the paper we have demonstrated that the cohesion policy realized by the EU, has significantly affected the process of the revitalization in Polish cities. This impact can be considered in two ways. On the one hand, the cohesion policy caused the necessity of long-term and integrated planning of all actions required for the activation of problem areas in a city. On the other hand, it initiated instruments by which Polish cities had a real opportunity to start the thorough revitalization.

SIGNIFICANCE OF EU FUNDS IN THE CREATION OF SPORT AND RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURE IN POLAND IN THE CONTEXT OF THE COHESION POLICY

Annotation The paper aims at analyzing the significance of EU funds in the creation of sport and recreation infrastructure in Poland in the context of the Cohesion Policy. The research has been conducted on the basis of data derived from the official websites of the Regional Operational Program for Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodship 2007-2013 (ROP WKP). The information on applications approved by the European Commission in the 2007-2013 programming period available at the websites have been currently upgraded and monitored. In order to achieve the aim of a research analysis have included all investments in sport and recreation infrastructure financed from EU funds. From database, which contained 6,117 applications implemented under the Cohesion Policy, 227 applications related to sport and recreation infrastructure have been analyzed. It has been proved in the paper that EU funds have contributed significantly to the creation of sport and recreation infrastructure improving, among others, quality of life.

Energy enterprises and the creation of economic potential of rural areas

Annotation The article aims to determine the roles of new enterprises operating in the renewable energy sector in creating the economic potential of rural areas in light of the socio-economic benefits resulting from their operation. The research was conducted on a regional scale and a detailed scale. The regionallevel research included the Lubelskie Voivodeship (NUTS 2) marked by high potential, in national terms, for the production of energy from RES, and biomass in particular. The detailed research was conducted using the case study method. The entities chosen for detailed research are: wind farm, photovoltaic farm, agricultural biogas plant. The concluded research proves that the establishment and operation of RES-based energy enterprises generates economic potential of rural areas. Analyses performed on a regional scale confirm that wider use of the energy potential of the Lubelskie Voivodeship, especially based on agriculture, will help drive the activity of local communities and form the basis for creating new jobs. The study on energy enterprises helps distinguish conventional socio-economic benefits arising from the development of renewable energy in rural areas, including new jobs and cooperation with local companies, as well as other effects, e.g. the provision of local services or educational and promotional activities.