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The paper analyses the changes in the scale of the rural economic activity and identifies their selected determinants. The socio-demographic characteristics of the labour resources and the economic differences between rural regions in Poland were analysed as reasons for the dissimilar levels of rural employment. Analyses have demonstrated that, in 2010-2016, rural economic activity measured by the employment rate increased from 50% to 53%, primarily as a result of the impact of cyclical determinants, reflected in the increase in the number of the employed being higher than the number of inactive persons, with a reduced scale of unemployment overall. The studies indicated similar values of the employment rate for urban and rural areas, while the differences in its level within the selected social categories were much more visible for rural populations. This reflected a persistence of territorial disparities in labour markets as well as a trend towards their convergence. The level of territorial differences in the rural employment in Poland was moderate and should be linked with regional economic characteristics. In this context, the allocation of rural labour supply could be attributed to the impact of cities and their functional areas and to the progress in economic diversification of villages located in a particular region. The discussion section of the paper outlines the institutional opportunities and barriers increasing rural economic activity. The presented conclusions were based on the Central Statistical Office data (mainly the Labour Force Survey and the Local Data Bank) and statistical and comparative analysis methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the article is to present the evolution of the economic space in the modern metropolis. The paper systematizes the most important changes of that space, in particular those expressed in the emergence of new areas and places of economic activity. To present this evolution, three axes illustrating various types of activity are used, constituting the contemporary pillars of metropolis development: production and technology, control and information, and consumption and culture. The ongoing transformation is shown in the context of centrifugal and centripetal tendencies occurring in the system: the city centre - the rest of the metropolitan area. On this basis, the authors formulate scenarios for changes in the spatial structure of the metropolis as well as research directions for the transformation of its economic space, resulting from technological and social transformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper attempts to build a profile of Polish municipalities, taking into account the factors which determine a higher level of entrepreneurship (in relation to other municipalities). To realize this goal, the authors took into account entrepreneurship support instruments used by the municipalities, as well as solutions used by business environment institutions. Based on a spatial analysis (global and local I Morana statistics), the authors presented the geographic distribution of clusters of municipalities with a similar level of entrepreneurship. The conducted research was supplemented with an analysis of economic activity determinants in municipalities with the highest level of entrepreneurship. Research showed that entrepreneurship is dependant not only from instruments belonging to local government units. Higher level of entrepreneurship is strongly connected with other factors. One of them is institutional support provided by local non governmental institutions. The next one is connected with localization and agglomeration benefits. The last one is a sum of all of these factors mentioned before. It means that focusing only on the instruments of entrepreneurship support by LGUs, is not enough to effectively support entrepreneurs. At least as much important as instruments, are other factors. Among them especially important is localization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local authorities play an important role in socio-economic development because of their proximity to local society and the knowledge about their needs. In order to realize tasks and serve local entities institutional solutions still need to be sought. It can help effectively use opportunities and capabilities of development. Local authorities are significant due to their indirect contact with local entities. This allows them to notice and identify arising problems. They can also prepare solutions or inspire to undertake activity to solve some problems. The main aim of the paper is to show the importance of local authorities in socio-economic development at the local level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this article is to present innovation and business centres and their role in the innovation policy of the state. The paper is divided into two parts. In the first part of the article the author describes problems referring to the concept of the innovation policy. The second part concentrates on the meaning of innovation and business centres in the innovation policy in Poland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]