Regional differences in the standard of living in Poland (based on selected indices)

The aim of the research was to analyze selected aspects of the standard of living in 66 geographic sub-regions in Poland. The research in this paper covers six aspects of the standard of living. Important needs include needs associated with individuals’ place of residence (housing conditions, environmental issues, etc…), health, education, and cultural interests. Hence, a total of 12 measures (indices) were utilized for all the Polish sub-regions of interest for the period 2002-2008. Values of the six indices of the standard of living in Poland vary spatially. In most cases, however, a clear trend of lower values can be observed in sub-regions surrounding major cities. This is especially true of healthcare and cultural services. The comprehensive index bears this out and points to a lowering in the standard of living in sub-regions surrounding major cities in Poland.