Rural Gminas Research Articles

Life cycle sustainability assessment of decentralised com- posting of bio-waste: A case study of the Łódź agglomeration (Poland)

The study examines the concept of decentralised composting of bio-waste as an alternative approach to current waste management practices, using the Łódź Agglomeration (Poland) as an exemplary case study. Consequently, the aim of the presented research is to compare and discuss the sustainability of the functioning biowaste management system (status quo) against an alternative solution based on decentralised composting. Combined application of process-based life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCCA) was selected as the methodology to compare the sustainability framework for the waste management practices under analysis. The study has made it clear that decentralised composting of bio-waste offers broader environmental, economic and social benefits, albeit with the level of that benefit being very much correlated with the type of local government area (commune or in Polish gmina). Regardless of the impact category, rural and urban–rural gminas achieved the greatest savings, reaching >90%, and thus are seen to offer the greatest potential for decentralised composting to be put into effect, on the basis of household/backyard composting. In consequence, decentralised composting can constitute a fundamental form of bio-waste management in 20 out of the 28 gminas of the Łódź Agglomeration. The results obtained from the research facilitate the implementation and wider utilisation of decentralised composting, as an important element of the transition to a circular economy, where bio-waste is concerned.

Public Institutions and Ngos Cooperation for Social Innovations in Post-Socialist Rural Poland

Abstract Social innovation (SI), which is known as an alternative practice for solving social problems, can be implemented by various actors, including nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and public institutions. This article addresses the implementation of SIs by public institutions in rural areas of Poland. Its aim is to answer two questions: 1) Does cooperation with NGOs distinguish rural public institutions in Poland that have implemented SIs from those that have not? 2) Does the level of human and financial resources of NGOs affect the level of cooperation between public institutions and NGOs from rural gminas? The results of an internet survey conducted on a random sample of 330 public institutions and 400 one-to-one interviews conducted on a random sample of NGOs from rural communes (rural gminas) are presented to answer the research questions posed. According to the findings, collaboration between public institutions and NGOs does not distinguish institutions that implemented SI and those that did not. In addition, the level of human and financial resources of NGOs was not a factor in determining whether or not public institutions cooperated with NGOs.

Boosting the Potential for GeoDesign: Digitalisation of the System of Spatial Planning as a Trigger for Smart Rural Development

This article sought to present a process of abrupt transition where technological innovation is concerned. The matter taken up in particular was accelerating digitalisation, in the wider context of digital transformation, and in this case, in reference to spatial planning issues. This article offers an assessment of the level of digitalisation and digital transformation of spatial planning, with this, in turn, making it possible to define the potential at the disposal of rural areas, as they seek to bring in the idea of smart rural development. The empirical analyses present herein are founded upon secondary statistical data as well as our own primary data on the subject of geoportals and their functionality in rural parts of the Łódź region (Poland). The assessments of both planning coverage and geoportal functionality reported herein provide insight regarding the potential for rural areas to implement the concept of GeoDesign, as an integral part of “smart rural development”. The research carried out made it clear that only a fifth of rural gminas in the region are of high potential where GeoDesign is concerned, while every third gmina has only very low potential. A further key conclusion is that rural gminas heading along the path of “smart development” may break out of a spatial order existing thus far on the basis of disparities, and a division of regions into a centre and peripheries. This is of major significance in the context of the diffusion of innovation that digitalisation and digital transformation represent.

Local initiatives for green space using Poland's Village Fund: evidence from Lodzkie voivodeship

Abstract Poland's Village Fund (Fundusz Sołecki) is an instrument operating at the level of the so-called sołectwo, into which local-administration units known as gminas may be further sub-divided. These are therefore auxiliary administrative units in rural areas whose receipt of means from the Fund in question allows for the activation of local communities. Against that background, the research detailed here sought to examine Village Fund by reference to the greenspace-related projects pursued using it in the rural gminas of Łódzkie Voivodeship. Additional aspects are the classification of the tasks carried out, presentation of the statistical analysis applied, and consideration of the breakdown obtained for indicators relating to the share of funds allocated to green areas – by reference to the properties of the normal distribution curve.

Scale and forms of domestic violence against schoolchildren in rural, rural-urban and urban areas

In 2017, the third cyclical study on the scale of domestic violence against schoolchildren and youth in one of the rural communes of the Western Pomerania (Poland) was carried out. The study took into account five forms of violence: mental, physical, neglect, economic and sexual. Previous two editions of the study covered urban-rural (2016) and urban gminas (2015). The research concept was implemented by means of the representative research method, with the use of auditing questionnaire interview technique, based on a research tool developed on the basis of a number of previous qualitative research and quantitative tests to measure the social scale of domestic violence. Domestic violence against minors reaches 48.2% in the rural area under study, 51.8% in the urban-rural area and 65.5% in the urban area. In all types of areas the most frequent form of violence is psychological violence, it affects 42.4% of children in rural gminas, 51.3% in urban-rural and 60.5% in urban gminas. In reference to other, less frequent forms of violence, there is also a difference in scale due to the area type. The incidence of individual forms of domestic violence varies depending on the type of area: Psychological violence: rural areas - 42.4%, urban-rural - 51.3%, urban areas - 60.5%; Neglect: rural areas - 21.1%, urban-rural - 13.5%, urban areas - 22.3%; Physical violence: rural areas - 17.1%, urban-rural - 20.7%, urban areas - 29.4%; Economic violence: rural areas - 12.6%, urban-rural - 19.2%, urban areas - 29.3%; Sexual violence: rural areas - 3.2%, urban-rural - 3.6%, urban areas - 8.1%.

Traits of Leaders of Rural Non-governmental Organisations as Predictors of Collaboration Between NGOs and Rural Gmina Offices: Voices from Central Poland

Collaboration between non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public institutions, in accordance with the new public governance model, may contribute to actions by such organisations on behalf of both the co-production and co-construction of social services. The aim of this article is to assess the role of selected traits of NGO leaders in determining the chances of collaboration between NGOs and rural gmina offices in central, post-socialist Poland. The authors present the results of studies on selected subjective determinants of such collaboration, in which 104 leaders of NGOs from 29 rural gminas participated. Five independent research tools were implemented. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the role of selected traits of NGO leaders in determining the potential for collaboration between NGOs and rural gmina offices. The final model indicates that the potential for collaboration between an NGO and a rural gmina office increases alongside higher levels of education, social competences and locus of control and decreased control ideology among NGO leaders. On this basis, the authors formulate practical conclusions concerning the education of leaders of rural NGOs in post-socialist Poland.

Changes in the Standard of Living in Rural Population of Poland in the Period of the Eu Membership

Abstract Polish rural areas face various social, economic and ecological problems. These processes greatly affect diversification of the standard of living in rural areas. The goal of the study was to assess spatial diversification of the standard of living in rural areas in Poland. It focused on all rural gminas as well as rural parts of rural-urban gminas. In the analysis, the standard of living was evaluated with Perkal’s synthetic index, with 12 variables concerning demographic and economic issues. The time span for the analysis was the period of 2003-2013. The highest standard of living was reported for rural areas located in the vicinity of urban agglomerations. The lowest standards of living were in typical rural gminas with poorly developed service functions. These were mainly depopulated areas from the outskirts of voivodeships. The Vistula River marked the dividing line in the standards of living in rural areas of Poland.

Diversity of quality of life of inhabitants in rural gminas in Świętokrzyskie voivodship

The aim of this article is to diagnose and evaluate selected aspects of the objective quality of life in rural gminas of Świętokrzyskie voivodship. An attempt was made to determine spatial differences in the quality of life in 2010 and 2015, using the taxonomic method and cluster analysis. The subject of the survey were rural gminas, where the quality of life analysis is carried out much less frequently than in the case of urban gminas, whereas these units are characterised by significant disproportions in the quality of life within the voivodship. In rural gminas of Świętokrzyskie voivodship the quality of life is improving, however, there are significant disproportions in the objective evaluation of the quality of life.

Delimitacja strefy wpływów demograficznych na przykładzie byłych miast wojewódzkich w Polsce

W artykule dokonano delimitacji stref bezpośredniego wpływu demograficznego (SWD) miasta ‐ rdzenia na obszary otaczające. Zaproponowaną metodę delimitacji zaprezentowano na przykładzie byłych miast wojewódzkich, które obecnie doświadczają dużych strat ludnościowych. Istnieje naukowa dyskusja, czy wpływ na te negatywne zmiany ma utrata znaczącej funkcji administracyjnej stolicy województwa. Określenie zasięgu strefy oddziaływania miasta jako ośrodka ponadlokalnego może zweryfikować tezę o niekorzystnych zmianach demograficznych, gdy analizie poddane zostaną całe zespoły miejskie. Procesy suburbanizacji, które nadal pozostają bardzo silne w polskiej rzeczywistości powinny determinować analizy ludnościowe ponad granicami administracyjnymi gmin. Delimitacji tych stref dokonano w oparciu o dwa wskaźniki rekomendowane przez Ministerstwo Rozwoju do wyznaczania obszarów funkcjonalnych 1) dojazdy do pracy oraz 2) zameldowania w gminach otaczających dla osób pochodzących z miasta - rdzenia. Efektem jest zaliczenie do SWD 220 gmin, w tym gmin miejskich – 8, gmin miejsko-wiejskich – 35 oraz gmin wiejskich – 177.

Ocena przestrzennego zróżnicowania sytuacji finansowej gmin województwa świętokrzyskiego z wykorzystaniem miary syntetycznej

The stability and certainty of income are determined by the scope and level of local public services and the tasks of the municipality. The aim of the article is to examine the financial situation of rural gminas in Świetokrzyskie voivodship in 2010 and 2015. The level of financial situation of gminas was determined by the method of synthetic indicator based on simple variables per capita: own income, subsidies, income from participation in PIT and CIT, investment expenditures. For calculations, the data of the Central Statistical Office of 2010 and 2015 describing the population of rural gminas analyzed in the voivodeship were used. The financial situation of the examined communes is difficult, as indicated by the low values of the synthetic measure. The synthetic measure has confirmed the diversity of the financial condition of the communes analyzed in rural areas. Its value ranged from 0.24 to 0.50 in 2010 and from 0.26 to 0.47 in 2015 for the dummy method and from 0.59 to 0.82 in 2010 and 0.62 to 0.81 in 2015 for the distance method with the Euclidean metric. Data analysis indicates that the level of income from local taxes and charges and income from participation in PIT and CIT is influenced by the financial situation. The low share of own incomes in the total revenues of the Świetokrzyskie voivodeships indicates their low self-sufficiency. Investment expenditure is low, which should lead to a constant analysis of municipal expenditure and indebtedness. This method gives a basis for evaluating and comparing multi-objective objects according to set criteria. It provides information about the object category being considered.

Factors influencing population migration in rural gminas of Eastern Poland

The aim of the article is to define the conditions of population migration in rural gminas of Eastern Poland with the use of statistical analysis. The empirical material of the study was based on the CSO data for 2014 and JUNG-PIB in Puławy. The research covered five voivodships: Lubelskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Świętokrzyskie and Warmińsko-Mazurskie. The obtained results allowed to confirm that both the inflow of population and the improved demographic situation in rural gminas of Eastern Poland was fostered by the development of non-agricultural economic activity, which had an impact on the increase of the labour and sales market, as well as on the better financial situation of local government units.

EDUCATIONAL COMPETENCIES VS HUMAN CAPITAL DIVERSIFICATION ON RURAL AREAS IN THE ZACHODNIOPOMORSKIE PROVINCE

The aim of the paper was to determine the level of differentiation and classification of rural areas in the Zachodniopomorskie province in terms of human capital resources defined in the field of education. The linear ordering method in the study was applied, and as a result, each spatial unit the synthetic indicator was assigned, describing the total level of the resource. It was assumed the uneven spatial distribution of human capital. The obtained results confirm: a higher level of human capital cumulating on highly urbanized areas and the occurrence of deficits on peripheral areas characterized by qualitatively low educational competences (also outside the formal). The study encompasses rural areas defined as rural and rural-urban gminas distinguished according to the GUS administrative criterion. The Regional Examination Board (OKE) in Poznan, the National Census of 2011 (NSP), the Local Data Bank of the CSO and the data of Rural Development Monitoring stage 1 were the main data source.

Internal determinants identification of the autonomy and financial ttractiveness of rural gminas in Wielkopolskie voivodship using biplot

The research aims at isolating and describing groups of rural gminas in Wielkopolskie voivodship with comparable financial autonomy and similar internal determinants in 2013. Furthermore, it allows to examine relations between the financial indicators and the socio-economic determinants. The PCA (Principal Component Analysis) biplot was used in the research. Data published by the Local Data Bank of the CSO and the Ministry of Finance was applied as a study informational basis. It was found that the highest level of financial autonomy was observed in the group of rural gminas close to the capital city of the voivodship. These gminas were distinguished by such determinants as net migration, percentage of inhabitants using sewage and gas supply system, as well as density and occupancy rate of accommodation establishments.

A spatial comparison of semi-urban and rural gminas in Poland in terms of their level of socio-economic development using Hellwig’s method

Abstract The concept of local development remains a crucial one, especially in the context of European Union membership and its support funds. The multidimensional character of local development makes it a subject of interest not only to economists, but also geographers, sociologists and statisticians. The aim of the paper is to present differences in the level of socio-economic development of semi-urban and rural gminas in Poland and to find clusters of gminas with a similar level of development. Hellwig’s method was used to compare 2,174 gminas, which showed large development disparities. There is a clear boundary between Eastern Poland with Mazowieckie Voivodship, where the country’s capital, Warsaw, is located, and Western Poland. gminas with a high level of development were observed usually on Poland’s Baltic coast and suburban areas of Warsaw, Szczecin, Poznań, Wrocław and Kraków. Low level gminas were mostly situated in the peripheries of the eastern voivodships.

The financial independence of rural gminas in the Wielkopolskie voivodship

Financial independence is an important factor in socio-economic development, especially in rural areas. Rural gminas (communities), mainly located peripherally to larger urban centers, have significantly lower revenue potential. This also means a lower level of financial independence of rural gminas, which in turn can be a barrier in multifunctional rural development. This issue is a priority for the European Union. The main objective of this article is a synthetic assessment of the level of financial independence of rural gminas in the Wielkopolskie voivodship in 2013. The basis of information studies, using the method TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity is an Ideal Solution) to assess the financial condition of municipalities, were data from the Central Statistical Office (Local Data Bank — Public finances for 2013) and Ministry of Finance (Indicators for assessing the financial position of local government units in 2011—2013).

Social and technical infrastructure development of municipalities (gminas) in Poland

This paper presents the institutional and spatial determinants for the development of social and technical infrastructure in municipalities (gminas) in Poland. According to the empirical results, there are significant differences between various types of gminas in terms of the level of development of technical and social infrastructure. Similar levels of technical or social infrastructure are associated with a significantly higher level of economic development in urban and urban-rural gminas than in rural gminas. Spatially, the position of gminas in relation to larger settlement centres and communication routes affects the development of technical infrastructure to a greater extent than social infrastructure. The relationship between infrastructure development and selected economic and social characteristics of municipalities is a feedback loop in which the relative wealth of a local administrative unit stimulates the development of the infrastructure while at the same time benefiting from this fact. This means that the present use of European Union Structural Funds for the development of infrastructure does not contribute to closing the gap in development. Sustainable development is largely the result of institutional factors related to infrastructure. It is therefore advisable to move away from a purely redistributive approach in this regard to targeted territorial support of the development potential of municipalities.

Social and technical infrastructure development of municipalities (gminas) in Poland

This paper presents the institutional and spatial determinants for the development of social and technical infrastructure in municipalities (gminas) in Poland. According to the empirical results, there are significant differences between various types of gminas in terms of the level of development of technical and social infrastructure. Similar levels of technical or social infrastructure are associated with a significantly higher level of economic development in urban and urban-rural gminas than in rural gminas. Spatially, the position of gminas in relation to larger settlement centres and communication routes affects the development of technical infrastructure to a greater extent than social infrastructure. The relationship between infrastructure development and selected economic and social characteristics of municipalities is a feedback loop in which the relative wealth of a local administrative unit stimulates the development of the infrastructure while at the same time benefiting from this fact. This means that the present use of European Union Structural Funds for the development of infrastructure does not contribute to closing the gap in development. Sustainable development is largely the result of institutional factors related to infrastructure. It is therefore advisable to move away from a purely redistributive approach in this regard to targeted territorial support of the development potential of municipalities.

W sprawie optymalnego podziału terytorialnego Polski: zastosowanie analizy grawitacyjnej

This article discusses issue relating to the current administrative division of Poland, as it seems there are more arguments emerging that make such a discussion of a possible amendment necessary. In recent times there has been yet-further conditioning of the situation as regards anticipated depopulation and a weakening economic base, with more functions expected to be lost by some urban centres. In these circumstances it is worth offering examples of how use may be made of the gravity analysis to show what possibilities for optimisation may exist. The article refers in particular to elaborations by D. Sokolowski (2014) and Ł. Zaborowski (2014a) which concern the administrative division of Poland at the level of the voivodship (province-region). The background to the discussion is an administrative division of Poland that has now been in place for more than 15 years, making it possible for a comprehensive assessment of its impact on wider economic and social life to be made. There are three main reasons why such an assessment ought to be critical. First, the effects of reforms and adopted administrative-territorial solutions seem not to be satisfactory, or at least are less so than expected (as regards the division of competences, and the numbers and sizes of individual units). Second, there is the polarising nature of the country’s current development, which is assessed negatively. And the third relevant factor is then the expected intensification of the depopulation process in Poland, with further deterioration of the age structure to the Polish population, an associated decrease in revenues to territorial units of administration and a consequent need to further optimise public services. All these factors make plainer the need for a discussion regarding optimisation of the country’s administrative division. It seemed clear from the outset that gravity analysis might prove a useful method of optimisation. The assumption is that the determination of the number and designation of areas belonging to or affiliated with major settlement centres can involve consideration being given to natural gravitation, as related to a physical understanding of relevant socio-economic impacts. If a given unit experiences greater attraction to another, their legal and administrative linkages may denote, not only greater spatial and functional cohesion, but also a greater possibility of synergies, benefits of cooperation, and so on, arising. The analyses made use of a classic gravitation model with a matrix of cities/towns together with Poland’s units of local-government administration at gmina level (as aggregated in the case of the Upper Silesian conurbation and the Tri-City (GdanskGdynia-Sopot), as well as the urban and rural gminas sharing the same seats). Adopted to give the assumed weight was a synthetic index composed in equal proportions of the size of the population and the number of enterprises. Analyses were then performed in relation to two issues: the optimal number of highest-order units and ranges of impact or influence. Analyses drawing on the aforesaid gravity analysis point to the sub-optimal nature of both the number of first-tier administrative units and their boundaries as delineated currently. For example, it may be concluded that a division of Poland more justified than the present one involving 16 voivodships (province-regions) would comprise 14 units at this level (i.e. a reduced number) or else 18-20 (an increase).

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.

Infrastructure’s and Housing’s Development in the Rural Areas in Poland—Some Problems

The article refers to an analysis and an evaluation of changes in the technical infrastructure and housing in the rural areas of Poland in the years 1995–2008. The article covers all rural and rural–urban (excluding urban parts) gminas1 in Poland that altogether amounts to 2,172 units (as of 2008). It was stated that in the rural areas in Poland a population density increased and it is caused mainly by dynamic suburbanisation processes and by a population movement from cities and towns towards suburban gminas, and in a lesser degree by natural increase. In the article the spatial variations of rural gminas were presented in the following elements: length of the water-line and sewerage networks per 100 km2; share of water-line and of sewerage systems’ users, number of dwellings per 1,000 population, number of rooms per person, the usable floor space of a dwelling in m2 per person, share of dwellings fitted with water-line system and share of dwellings equipped with flush toilet and bathroom. It is also shown that there are relationships between population density and infrastructure and housing elements by providing positive as well as negative correlations. JEL Classification: R11