Przegląd Geograficzny (2015) vol. 87, iss. 2
On an optimal territorial division of Poland: using gravity analysis
Przegląd Geograficzny (2015) vol. 87, iss. 2, pp. 343-359 | 
Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.2.7
Abstract
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. Sokołowski (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 (GdańskGdynia-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).
Keywords: podział terytorialny, zasięg oddziaływania, modele grawitacji
[psleszyn@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Citation
APA: Śleszyński, P. (2015). W sprawie optymalnego podziału terytorialnego Polski: zastosowanie analizy grawitacyjnej. Przegląd Geograficzny, 87(2), 343-359. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.2.7
MLA: Śleszyński, Przemysław. "W sprawie optymalnego podziału terytorialnego Polski: zastosowanie analizy grawitacyjnej". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 87, no. 2, 2015, pp. 343-359. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.2.7
Chicago: Śleszyński, Przemysław. "W sprawie optymalnego podziału terytorialnego Polski: zastosowanie analizy grawitacyjnej". Przegląd Geograficzny 87, no. 2 (2015): 343-359. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.2.7
Harvard: Śleszyński, P. 2015. "W sprawie optymalnego podziału terytorialnego Polski: zastosowanie analizy grawitacyjnej". Przegląd Geograficzny, vol. 87, no. 2, pp. 343-359. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2015.2.7