Changes in the spatial differentiation of the level of socio-economic development in Poland in the years 2000-2010 in terms of innovative economy and business environment

Abstract

The innovative economy and business environment are important factors in socio-economic development of regions. In this paper, the analysis of the spatial differentiation of the socio-economic development level in Poland in the years 2000–2010 in the aspect of the innovative economy and the business environment has been carried out based on 13 characteristics related to the spatial units at the regional level (NUTS 2) and 3 characteristics relating to the local level (NUTS4). The resulting spatial distributions of economic growth and stagnation areas for 11 observations in the period from the year 2000 to 2010 made i t possible to identify the essential features of the development of these areas, and to identify factors influencing these distributions. The specific objectives of this analysis are as follows: 1. Identification of the spatial distribution of the development level in terms of: innovative economy and the business environment in Poland, leading to distinctions of the areas of growth and stagnation. 2. Analysis of the trajectory of the development of growth and stagnation areas in this aspect, including an attempt to answer to the degree to which the economic crisis has an impact on this part of economy. 3. Identification of factors affecting the distribution and variability of growth and stagnation areas in terms of: innovative economy and the business environment. This article presents the results of the research project “Socio-economic development and the development of the areas of growth and economic stagnation”, funded by the National Science Centre (N N306 791940), conducted at the Department of Regional Studies University. Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan.