Zróżnicowanie poziomu rozwoju obszarów wiejskich w Polsce a problem realizacji polityki spójności

The aim of the research project was to find an answer to the question whether spatial variations in the level of socio-economic development of rural Poland are gradually disappearing thanks to the cohesion policy pursued in the country or still growing despite this policy. It was assumed that the course of ongoing transformation is dependent on two factors: cohesion policy and the well-known regularity that the effectiveness of investment is higher in more-developed areas. Additionally, an attempt was made to determine how the discussed processes are influenced by policies pursued by local authorities. The most important conclusions from the research are as follows: -Spatial variations in the level of socio-economic development of rural areas are growing despite the policy to even out disparities (cohesion policy). -Communes showing the highest level of development and the highest development dynamics are located around the largest cities and are able to benefit from proximity to urban markets. - Suburban areas develop around the largest cities and around medium-sized cities with a well-developed structure of urban functions. They do not develop around monofunctional cities. - Backward areas and areas with low development dynamics are remote from main cities. More of them are in eastern than in western Poland. - Of the two factors which determine spatial variations in the development of rural areas – location close to larger cities or in remote areas, and historical reasons (the partitions of Poland and shifts of borders after World War II) - the first one plays a more important role now. -Other factors (e.g. the location rent) have greater influence on spatial variations in development than the cohesion policy pursued