Three Decades of Polish Socio-Economic Transformations: Geographical Perspectives (Economic Geography)

This edited volume analyses and discusses the systematisation of Polish socio-economic transformations of the last three decades using selected examples of the most important changes. 1989 marked the onset of the political transformation process in Poland and other countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The transition involved a shift from a socialist system to a parliamentary democracy and from a command economy to a market one. Due to the deep economic crisis that culminated in 1988 and the peaceful model of change developed and implemented in Poland, the magnitude and manner of implementing various initiatives was unprecedented and had specific implications. This transformation opened Polish society and the Polish economy to the impact of global social and economic changes, triggering successive transformations, often overlapping in terms of their causes and consequences. This publication aims to present the course and effects, in particular territorial, of Poland's socio-economic transformation in the years 1990–2020. The analysis covers the key aspects of this transformation, illustrated with references to the concepts and theories of development, domestic and foreign literature, own empirical research and existing or newly developed model approaches to transformation in the territorial dimension. The book appeals to researchers and student in the fields of geography, spatial management, economics and business, sociology and political sciences, public and private economic research institutes, employees of governmental bodies and corporations, consultants in public administration, journalists and policymakers. Foreword Introduction Contents Part I The Context of Polish Post-communist Transformation 1 Poland: Economic Reforms Under Extraordinary and Normal Politics—An Insider’s View 1.1 Introduction: The Specificity of the Post-socialist Transition 1.2 How I Became a Reformer 1.3 Radical Stabilisation and Reforms in the Period of Extraordinary Politics (September 1989–December 1991) 1.4 In Between the Governments 1.5 Reforms During the Period of Normal (But Peculiar) Politics (October 1997–May 2000) 1.6 Concluding Remarks References 2 Regional Patterns of the Transformation and Policy Responses 2.1 Introduction: General Frameworks 2.2 The Lost Decades of 1971–1989: The Situation on the Eve of the Transition 2.3 The Regional Patterns of the 1989–1992 Recession 2.4 Regional Policies in the Wake of the Transformation 2.4.1 General Overview 2.4.2 Instruments of Territorial Reactions to Restructuring Processes 2.4.3 Decentralisation 2.4.4 Preparation for the Accession 2.5 Equity or Efficiency? 2.6 Under the Umbrella of Cohesion Policy 2.7 Conclusions References 3 Geographical and Historical Background of the Transformation: Politics and Society 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Historical Geopolitics of Polish Lands 3.3 Socio-economic Changes from Feudalism to Socialism 3.3.1 From Birth to Collapse (966–1772–1795) 3.3.2 Under the Partitions (1772–1795–1918) 3.3.3 From One War to Another: A Moment of Freedom (1918–1939) 3.3.4 A Different World (1939–1989) 3.4 Summary References 4 Axes of Political Rivalry in a Territorial Pattern: Geography of Electoral Behaviour 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Polish Political Scene: From a Multi-party System to the Consolidation and Relative Stability of the Parliament 4.3 Territorial Axes of Political Rivalry. Factors Shaping the Spatial Variability of Election Results 4.4 An Expansive-Competitive Mechanism of the Spread of Support for the Law and Justice Party 4.5 Conclusion References 5 Territorial Division: Administrative Reforms and a Look to the Future 5.1 Introduction 5.2 The International Context and the Legacy of History 5.3 Territorial Division into Gminas. From Fragmentation to Stabilisation 5.4 Subregional Structures. A Return to Poviats 5.5 Reform of Regional Structures. Large Voivodeships 5.6 Unresolved Issues. Governance of Metropolitan Areas 5.7 Summary and Recommendations References Part II Transformation of Society, the Economy and the Environment 6 Dynamic of Economic and Social Development 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Research Methods 6.3 Demographic Situation 6.4 Economic Development 6.5 Standard of Living (Wealth) 6.6 Synthesis 6.6.1 Correlations and Dependencies 6.6.2 Events as Independent Factors and Development Determinants 6.7 Conclusion References 7 Car Market Transformation 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Development Stages of the Car Market 7.3 The Market for New Cars 7.4 Import of Used Cars After EU Accession 7.5 Change in the Level of Motorisation and Its Spatial Differences 7.6 Conclusions References 8 Changes in Ownership and Production Structure of Agriculture 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Changes in Agricultural Land Use 8.3 Changes in the Area and Ownership Structure and the Spatial Organisation of Farms 8.4 Specialisation Intensity and Diversification of Agricultural Production 8.5 Conclusions References 9 Tertiarisation of the Economy: Restructuring of the Service Sector 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Service Development: A Theoretical Approach 9.3 Development of the Service Sector in Poland as Compared with the EU Countries 9.4 Changes in the Structure of the Service Sector in Poland 9.5 Development of Business Services 9.6 Other Tendencies and Directions of Development in the Field of Services 9.7 Conclusions References 10 Population Changes During the Demographic Transition 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Demographic Changes in Poland Since 1990 10.2.1 Population Size 10.2.2 Natural Increase and Migration 10.2.3 Population Structure 10.3 Spatial Diversification of the Demographic Changes Across Poland 10.3.1 Depopulation 10.3.2 Population Ageing 10.4 The Demographic Situation of Poland as Compared to that of Other EU Countries 10.5 Conclusions References Part III Transformation of the Country’s Space 11 Changes in the Spatial Planning System 11.1 Introduction 11.2 The Starting Point: Planning Under Socialism 11.3 General Reconstruction of the Planning Model (1990–2003) 11.4 Development of the Current Planning System (2003–2020) 11.5 The Polish Planning System Versus European Systems 11.6 Conclusion References 12 Transformation of the Urban and Rural System 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Historical Conditions: The Character of Post-war Urbanisation 12.3 Large Cities: Problems of Functional and Spatial Development 12.4 Suburbanisation Processes Around Big Cities 12.5 Medium-Sized Cities: Problems of Shrinkage 12.6 Small Towns and Rural Areas: Between Challenges of Decline and Multifunctional Bottom-Up Development 12.7 Conclusion References 13 Modernisation of Transport Infrastructure and Changes in Spatial Accessibility 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Terminology and Research Methods 13.3 The Transformation of the Infrastructure and the Changes in Transport Offers in the Road, Rail, and Air Transport 13.3.1 Road Transport 13.3.2 Rail Transport 13.3.3 Air Transport 13.4 Summary References 14 Development of Tourism: Growth and Evolution of the Leisure Industry 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Characteristics of Tourism Services in Poland Before 1989 14.3 Development of Tourism in Poland After 1989 14.4 Development Dynamics of Tourism Services 14.5 Dynamics of Tourist Flows 14.6 Polish Branded Tourism Products 14.7 Positioning Poland as an International Tourist Destination References 15 Environmental Change and Management 15.1 The State of the Environment at the Threshold of Transformation 15.2 The System of Environmental Protection Under Construction 15.3 Polish Environmental Protection Within European Environmental Policy 15.4 Contemporary Challenges References 16 Landscape and Spatial Management: Changes, Principles and Directions of Measures 16.1 Introduction 16.2 Landscape versus Spatial Order: A Theoretical Approach 16.2.1 Landscape as a Spatial Pattern of the Social-ecological System 16.2.2 Spatial and Social Determinants of Spatial Order 16.3 Principles of Landscape and Spatial Order Design in the Provisions of Law and Strategic Documents of 1990–2020 16.4 Changes in the Land Use Structure During the 30 years of the Transformation: Factors and Effects 16.4.1 Land Use as an Indicator Describing the Landscape 16.4.2 Changes at Regional Levels 16.4.3 Changes at Subregional Levels 16.5 Urban and Rural Landscape Transformations as a Picture of Spatial Order in Poland 16.5.1 Urban and Rural Cultural Landscape: General Tendencies 16.5.2 Structural, Physiognomic and Functional Changes in Cities and Rural Areas: A Case Study 16.6 Guidelines for Correct Landscape Design and the Preservation of Spatial Order: General Recommendations 16.7 Summing-Up References Part IV Poland in Europe and in the World 17 Poland’s Position in the Global Economy 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Poland's Position in Global Rankings 17.3 Foreign Capital Inflow in the Form of Foreign Direct Investment as One of the Main Dimensions of Poland's Integration Into the Global Economy 17.4 Activity of Transnational Corporations in Poland as Major Players of the Global Economy 17.5 Poland’s Investment Attractiveness on an International Scale 17.6 The Activity of Polish Entrepreneurs on International Markets 17.7 Conclusion References 18 Changes in the Spatial and Commodity Structure of Poland's Foreign Trade 18.1 Introduction 18.2 Changes in the Conditions of Poland's Foreign Trade 18.3 Poland's Participation in the World Trade and the Role of Foreign Trade in the Polish Economy 18.4 Spatial Structure of Poland's Foreign Trade 18.5 Analysis of the Spatial Distribution of Poland's Foreign Trade Turnover Using a Gravitational Model 18.6 Commodity Structure of Poland's Foreign Trade 18.7 Summary References 19 The Ins and Outs of the Labour Market 19.1 Introduction 19.2 Labour Market Performance and Migration Flows 19.3 Revealing the Ins and Outs 19.4 Regional Determinants of (Permanent) Migration 19.4.1 The Data 19.4.2 Estimation Details 19.4.3 Estimation Results 19.5 Conclusions References 20 EU Regional Policy and Its Implications for the Development of Polish Regions 20.1 Theoretical Foundations and Changes in the Regional Policy Paradigm 20.2 From Regional Policy to Cohesion Policy 4.0: The European Context 20.3 The Polish Experience of Feeble Regional Policy in a Centrally Controlled Economy 20.4 The Impact of EU Regional Policy on the National Development Policy Model in Poland 20.5 EU Regional Policy Intervention in Shaping the Development of Polish Regions 20.6 Conclusions and Recommendations for the Period 2020+ References Part V Poland’s Development in the Face of Global Challenges 21 Spatial-Economic Prosilience: A Signpost Framework for Poland 21.1 Introduction 21.2 Setting the Scene 21.3 Resilience Facts on Poland 21.4 The Art of Economic Resilience Policy 21.5 A Capability Interpretation of the Polish Economy References 22 Polish Cities: The Search for Development Concepts 22.1 Introduction 22.2 Polish Cities Under Transition: New Problems Require New Solutions 22.3 Urban Responses to Global Challenges: A Selection 22.3.1 Resilient City 22.3.2 Smart City 22.3.3 Cittàslow/Slow City 22.4 Adaptation Strategies of Polish Cities 22.4.1 Resilient City in Poland 22.4.2 Smart City in Poland 22.4.3 Slow Cities in Poland 22.5 Lessons Learned 22.6 Conclusions References 23 Epilogue: COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland: The Course, Effects and Challenges 23.1 Introduction 23.2 The Pandemic in Poland: An Account of the First year 23.3 Political Leadership and Crisis Management During the Pandemic 23.4 COVID-19 Demographic and Social Consequences 23.5 The Economic Impact of the Pandemic 23.6 The EU recovery plan and Its Implementation in Poland 23.7 The ‘New’ Polish Deal 23.8 Development: (Post) COVID Uncertainty References