Standard of Living as Deprivation Index in Poland (Based on Selected Indexes)

Abstract

The purpose of the research was to determine some features of the standard of living in Poland in the system of 66 subregions. Consideration was given to the needs related to the place of living and the environment (housing, the condition of the natural environment), health, educational background, and activity in the field of culture. Therefore, the total of 12 measurements was used for all subregions for the years 2002/2003–2009/2010. The above- introduced partial indexes for specific subregions were standardised. Both the spatial distribution of the synthetic indicator for all indexes in 2009/20010 were analysed, as well as changes in these indexes in 2002/2003– 2009/2010. The 6 features of the standard of living in Poland which were subject to the analysis present different spatial dependencies. However, for most of them, lower values of the indexes are reported in subregions surrounding big cities. It is particularly relevant when it comes to healthcare and culture. It shows that the impact areas of these cities (metropolitan areas) are not adapted to the existing needs. A regular growth in the population of the subregions does not result in any decisions on investment in services. Similarly, not all metropolitan areas are adapted, in terms of their technical infrastructure availability, to the growth of their population. The lack of preparation is also demonstrated by trends in the synthetic index fluctuations, which indicate a deteriorating standard of living in the terms of analysed aspects in the subregions in the vicinity of the largest cities of Poland.