Changes in the Spatial and Commodity Structure of Poland's Foreign Trade

Abstract

AbstractThe studies undertaken in this chapter address changes in the spatial and commodity structure of Poland's foreign trade in the years 1989–2018. The study refers to foreign trade understood in a narrow sense, i.e. as sales abroad and the purchase of material goods from abroad. The spatial scope of the analysis includes Poland's foreign trade with all countries of the world. The aim of the study is defined by two main research problems: (1) the identification of changes in the spatial and commodity structure of Poland's foreign trade and (2) the identification of conditions shaping the spatial links of Poland's foreign trade. An analysis of the geographical distribution of Poland's foreign trade turnover was also carried out using the gravity model. The analysis of the spatial and commodity structure is preceded by a presentation of changes in the functioning conditions of Poland's foreign trade and the characteristics of Poland's share in the world trade and the role of foreign trade in the Polish economy. The primary sources of data included published and unpublished resources of Statistics Poland (GUS) in Warsaw, the World Bank and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIiH).KeywordsForeign tradeExportImportPolandSpatial structureCommodity structure