Abstract
Regional development is a complex economic category and a commonly used term today, yet it is vaguely defined and, therefore, interpreted implicitly and understood intuitively. From a statistical point of view, this concept, on account of its imprecision and ambiguity, is a kind of multidimensional characteristic which may be measured, though not conclusively. Due to the lack of a universal set of diagnostic variables adopted in taxonomic analyses, the quantitative approach to the examined research area, which is in most cases presented descriptively, poses the main problem. The objectives of the article are to rank the provinces of Poland in terms of regional development in the years 2006–2018 and to assess the similarity of results over time. The research study is based on linear ordering methods within the scope of multidimensional statistical analysis. The results of the conducted analyses allowed us to rank the provinces of Poland in terms of regional development in the years 2006–2018 and to assess the similarity of the results over time. The results of the analysis indicate a clear stabilization of high ranked positions during the examined period, last places are generally taken by the same regions. This situation may indicate an increase or at least strengthening of the disproportions between the most and least developed regions in Poland. Theoretical considerations presented in the article as well as the empirical results of our own research may provoke more detailed discussion on the subject.
Highlights
Regional development is a multi-faceted research topic and an interdisciplinary issue, lacking a complex theory to describe or even define it
According to Regional Development Policy presented by Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), regional development may be perceived in most general terms as an effort made in order to decrease the regional disproportions via supporting business activity in those regions
The results of the conducted analyses allowed us to rank the provinces of Poland in terms of regional development in the years 2006–2018 and assessment of the similarity of the results over time
Summary
Regional development is a multi-faceted research topic and an interdisciplinary issue, lacking a complex theory to describe or even define it. It is described as a process, mainly of an economic nature, where regional production factors are transformed into goods and services [1]. Development, in the simplest terms, is understood as a process of positive changes comprising both quantitative growth and qualitative progress, where the quantitative aspect encompasses the concept of economic growth, while the qualitative aspect regards transformation of socio-economic structures, as a result of which they acquire new characteristics [4]. Changes in the economic potential, economic structure, natural environment, infrastructural development, spatial order and spatial development allow identifying regional development with a permanent increase in the standard of living of the region’s inhabitants [5]. Contemporary development mechanisms, including technological progress, development of the information society and globalization of the economy contribute to deepening development disparities [8]
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