https://doi.org/10.51733/opm.2025.02

Autorzy: A. Sobala-Gwosdz, K. Janas, W. Jarczewski, Piotr Czakon

Key findings

At the very top of the hierarchy taking into account the functional areas of the cities is Warsaw, a first tier centre, which is the only national metropolis. Despite the significant gap in the tier of development between the capital and the second-tier cities, the latter deserve to be called supra-regional metropolises. There are as many as seven such metropolises in Poland (not counting Warsaw): Krakow, Wrocław, Poznań, the Tricity, Łódź, Szczecin and Katowice (GZM+). The analysis taking into account the metropolitan area highlighted the weakness of Szczecin’s metropolitan functions, emphasising the importance of such functions in the Katowice and Tricity conurbations (Fig. 1). The 3rd tier of the settlement hierarchy includes agglomerations of regional importance, including all provincial centres, and five large agglomerations which, despite not having provincial city status, play an important role. As many as three of them are located in the Śląskie Province: Bielsko-Biała, the Rybnik agglomeration, and Częstochowa. The other two are Radom and Koszalin. Analysis at the functional area level shows the weakness of Gorzów Wielkopolski’s hinterland, while it highlights the significant position of Bielsko-Biała. 4th tier of the hierarchy is made up of sub-regional cities. This level seems to be particularly important for the settlement system in Poland, as it is the key link for maintaining the polycentric settlement network of the country. Each of the 40 4th tier centres concentrates a number of central functions, the quality and accessibility of which largely determines the standard of living of the residents of both these cities and the suburban and rural areas they serve. The network is supplemented by strong supralocal towns (5th tier), while the two lowest levels of the hierarchy (6th – supra-local centres and 7th – local centres) do not have any significant central functions and hence do not distinguish themselves fundamentally from other local municipalities.

Bibliography

Territorial Agenda 2030. A future for all areas, 2020. Available at: https://territorialagenda.eu/pl/ [access date: 11 April 2024].
Boudevill J.R., 1966, Problems of regional economic planning, Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh.
Braudel F., 1992, Structures of the everyday. Possible and impossible (Material culture, economy and capitalism XV-XVIII century, 1), Państwowy Instytut Wydawniczy, Warsaw.
Brezzi M., Veneri P., 2014, Assessing polycentric urban systems in the OECD: Country, Regional and Metropolitan Perspectives, European Planning Studies, 23(6), 1128-1145. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2014.905005
Cheshire P.C., Nathan M., Overman H. G., 2014, Urban economics and urban policy. Challenging conventional policy wisdom, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham-Northampton.
Chmielewski J., Dziewoński K., Malisz B., 1947, National Plan Study I, Chief Spatial Planning Office, Warsaw.
Christaller W., 1933, Die zentralen Orte in Süddeutschland: Eine ökonomischgeographische Untersuchung über die Gesetzmässigkeit der Verbreitung und Entckwiklung der Siedlungen mit städtischen Funktionen, Gustav Fischer Verlag, Jena.
Christaller W., 1966, Central place theory in Southern Germany, Prentice Hall, New York.
Christian D., 2011, Maps of time: An introduction to Big History, University of California Press, Oakland.
Churski P., Adamiak C., Szyda B., Dubownik A., Pietrzykowski M., Śleszyński P., 2023, Nowa delimitacja miejskich obszarów funkcjonalnych w Polsce i jej zastosowanie w praktyce zintegrowanego podejścia terytorialnego (place-based approach), Przegląd Geograficzny, 95(1), 29-55. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2023.1.2
Domański B., Gwosdz K., 2010, Multiplier effects in local and regional development, Quaestiones Geographicae, 29(2), 27-38. https://doi.org/10.2478/v10117-010-0012-7
Dziewoński K., 1971, Baza ekonomiczna i struktura funkcjonalna miast. A study of the development of concepts, methods and their applications, Geographical Works, 87, 9-112. Available at: https://rcin.org.pl/dlibra/doccontent?id=15320 [access date: 11 April 2024).
ESPON 1.1.1, Potentials for polycentric development in Europe, 2005, NORDREGIO, Stockholm. Available at:
https://www.espon.eu/sites/default/files/attachments/fr-1.1.1_revised-full_0.pdf [access date: 11 April 2024].
Janas K., Jarczewski W. (eds.), 2017, Governance and cooperation in urban functional areas. Raport o Stanie Polskich Miast, Instytut Rozwoju Miast, Krakow.
Grzeszczak J., 1999, Growth poles and forms of polarised space, IGiPZ PAN, Warsaw.
Guzik R., Kołoś A., 2021, Accessibility of rural areas to district towns in Poland by public transport in 2019, Geographical Review, 93(2), 181-206. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2021.2.3
Guzik R., Kołoś A. (eds.), 2015, Functional-spatial relationships between urban centres and their surroundings in Pomorskie Province, Office of the Marshal of Pomorskie Province, Gdańsk.
Guzik R., Kołoś A., Fiedeń Ł., Kocaj A., Wiedermann K., 2020a, Transport accessibility and spatial relations in the Pomorskie Province, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Krakow.
Guzik R., Kołoś A., Fiedeń Ł., Kocaj A., Wiedermann K., 2020b, Spatial relations and communication accessibility – Małopolskie Province, Lesser Poland Regional Development Observatory, Department of Sustainable Development, Office of the Marshal of the Małopolska Province, Krakow.
Guzik R., Kołoś A., Fiedeń Ł., Kocaj A., Wiedermann K., 2021a, Communication accessibility and spatial relations in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Province, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Krakow.
Guzik R., Kołoś A., Fiedeń Ł., Kocaj A., Wiedermann K., 2021b, Transport accessibility and spatial relations in Łódzkie province, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Krakow.
Guzik R., Kołoś A., Fiedeń Ł., Kocaj A., Wiedermann K., 2021c, Communication accessibility and spatial relations in Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Krakow.
Guzik R., Kołoś A., Fiedeń Ł., Kocaj A., Wiedermann K., 2021d, Communication accessibility and spatial relations in the West Pomeranian Province, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Krakow.
Gwosdz K., Ciechowski M., Micek G., 2010, Economic bases for the functioning and development of the urban economy, [in:] B. Domański, A. Noworól, Badanie funkcji, potencjałów i trendów rozwojowych miast w województwie małopolskim (Study of the functions, potentials and development trends of towns in the Małopolskie Province), Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Institute of Public Affairs, Jagiellonian
University.
Jackowski A. (ed.), 2005, School Encyclopedia. Geography, Zielona Sowa Publishing House, Krakow.
Janas K. (ed.), 2020, Towards a new National Urban Policy, Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Warsaw-Krakow. Available at: https://obserwatorium.miasta.pl/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Raport-rekomendacyjny-w-kierunku-nowej-polityki-miejskiej-Karol_Janas_Wojciech_Jarczewski_Rajmund_Rys_Lukasz_Sykala-OPM-IRMiR.pdf [access date: 11 April 2024].
Jasiecki K., 2013, Capitalism in Polish. Between Modernisation and the Periphery of the European Union, IFiS PAN Publishing House, Warsaw.
Jerczyński M., 1971, Indirect methods of identifying and measuring the economic base of cities, Prace Geograficzne IG PAN, 63, 111-141.
Jerczyński M., 1973, Zagadnienia specjadalizacji bazy ekonomicznej większych miast w Polsce, Prace Geograficzne IG PAN, 97, 9-134.
Komornicki T., Rosik P., 2022, Methods of evaluating the spatial effects of transport investments (Studies. Cykl Monografii, 17/209), Committee for Spatial Planning of the Country, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw. Available at: https://publikacje.pan.pl/book/145064/metody-ewaluacjiefektow-przestrzennych-inwestycji-transportowych-2022-komornicki-tomasz-rosik-piotr?language=pl [access date: 11 April 2024].
Komornicki T., Śleszyński P., Węcławowicz G., 2006, On the need for a new vision of the development of Poland’s transport infrastructure network, Przegląd Komunikacyjny, 6, 13-20.
National Urban Policy 2030, 2022, Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy Strategy Department, Warsaw. Available at:
https://www.gov.pl/web/fundusze-regiony/polityka-miejska [access date: 11 April 2024].
National Regional Development Strategy 2030. Socially Responsive and Territorially Sustainable Development, 2019, Warsaw. Available at: https://www.gov.pl/web/fundusze-regiony/krajowa-strategia-rozwoju-regionalnego [access date: 11 April 2024].
Krzysztofik R. (ed.), 2019, Przemiany demograficzne miast Polski, Institute of Urban Development, Krakow.
Kubiak Ł., 2018, The formation process of the Bydgoszcz-Toruń ZIT, Czasopismo Geograficzne, 89 (12), 71-92.
Kunzmann K., Wegener M., 1991, The pattern of urbanisation in Western Europe 1960-1990, Report to Directorate-General XVl of the Commission of the European Communities (Berichte aus dem Institut für Raumplanung, 28), Institute for Spatial Planning, University of Dortmund, Dortmund.
Available at: https://www.spiekermann-wegener.de/pub/pdf/IRPUD_Ber28_1991.pdf [access date: 11 April 2024].
Lösch A., 1940, Die räumliche Ordnung der Wirtschaft. Eine Untersuchung über Standort, Wirtschaftsgebiete und internationalen handel, Gustav Fischer, Jena.
Matyja R., 2021, Urban land. 250 years of the Polish game with modernity, Karakter, Krakow.
Bydgoska Metropolis, 2017, Letter addressed to the Institute of Urban Development, signed by the Chairman of the Bydgoska Metropolis Association Piotr Cyprys.
Mróz K., Štraub D., 2024, Transport links and transport accessibility of Polish cities in relation to the current settlement hierarchy, Research of the Urban Policy Observatory, Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Warsaw-Krakow.
Nagle G., Spencer K., 1997, Advanced geography. Revision handbook, Oxford University Press, Oxford.
Nowosielska E., 1992, Christaller’s theory – truth and myths (on conceptual misunderstandings), Geographical Documentation, 3. Available at: https://rcin.org.pl/dlibra/doccontent?id=20626 [access date: 11 April 2024].
All-Poland Telephone Directory (part I. 12), 1990, Wydawnictwo Komunikacji i Łączności, Warsaw.
Paelinck J., 1965, La théorie du développement régional polarisé, Cahiers de l’Institute Science économique appliquée, L-15, 159, 5-47.
Piech K., Janas K., Sykała Ł., Dawid M., Dawid W., Dziadowicz K., Koj J., Kudłacz K., Mróz M., 2024, Demographic processes as determinant of urbanization processes in Poland, Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Warsaw-Krakow.
Rudewicz J., 2024, The two-system model of Polish life on the German side of the influence of Szczecin, Czasopismo Geograficzne, 95(1), 4974. https://doi.org/10.12657/czageo-95-03
Sagan I., 2016, Young democracy and neoliberal urban politics, Sociological Review, 65(1), 9-26. Available at:
https://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.desklight-d3d81928-4ddc-4dbd-9d2d-ef57a045b2e1 [access date: 11 April 2024].
Sierzputowska K., 2015, Bydgoszcz-Toruń. The historical background to the conflict, World of Ideas and Politics, 14, 448-462.
Sobala-Gwosdz A., 2005, Growth centres and areas of stagnation in the Podkarpackie Province, Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Krakow.
Sobala-Gwosdz A., 2023a, Position of cities as central centres, Publishing House of the Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Warsaw-Krakow. https://doi.org/10.51733/opm.2022.04
Sobala-Gwosdz A, 2023b, Economic decision-making and control functions of urban centres, Research of the Urban Policy Observatory, Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Warsaw-Krakow. https://doi.org/10.51733/opm.2023.06
Sobala-Gwosdz A., 2023c, Challenges, trends and processes of economic development. Identification of growth poles and centres of balancing development in Poland, Research of the Urban Policy Observatory, Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Warsaw-Krakow. https://doi.org/10.51733/opm.2023.22
Sobala-Gwosdz A., 2024, Economic base of cities and their functional areas, Research of the Urban Policy Observatory, Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Warsaw-Krakow. https://doi.org/10.51733/opm.2024.25
Sobala-Gwosdz A., Czakon P., Gwosdz K., Hetmańczyk K., 2024, Innovation and creativity of urban centres, Research of the Urban Policy Observatory, Institute of Urban and Regional Development, Warsaw-Krakow. https://doi.org/10.51733/opm.2023.24
Sokołowski D., 2005, Centrality versus nodality of major cities in Poland, Przegląd Geograficzny, 77(4), 507-526. Available at: https://rcin.org.pl/Content/76/PDF/Wa51_167_r2005-t77-z4_Przeg-Geogr.pdf [access date: 11 April 2024].
Sokołowski D., 2006, Central functions and urban functional hierarchy in Poland, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń.
Strategy for Responsible Development to 2020 (with an Outlook to 2030), 2017, Ministry of Development, Warsaw. Available at: https://www.gov.pl/web/fundusze-regiony/informacje-o-strategii-na-rzecz-odpowiedzialnego-rozwoju [access date: 11 April 2024].
Sýkora L., 2009, Post-socialist cities, [in:] R. Kitchin, N. Thrift (eds.), International Encyclopedia of Human Geography, Elsevier Science, 387-395. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-008044910-4.01072-5
Szymańska D., 2002, Some issues of urbanization in Poland in the second half of the 20th century, [in:] J. Słodczyk (ed.), Przemiany bazy ekonomicznej i struktury przestrzennej miast, Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Opolskiego, Opole, Opole.
Śleszyński P., 2018, Identification and evaluation of demographic processes in Poland with special reference to rural areas, Wieś i Rolnictwo, 3, 35-67. https://doi.org/10.53098/wir032018/02
Śleszyński P., 2017, Wyznaczenie i typologia miast średnich tracących funkcje społeczno-gospodarcze, Przegląd Geograficzny, 89(4), 565-593. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2017.4.3
Śleszyński P., 2013, Delimitacja Miejskich Obszarów Funkcjonalnych stolictwa województwa,
Przegląd Geograficzny, 85(2), 173-197. https://doi.org/10.7163/PrzG.2013.2.2
Śleszyński P., Komornicki T., 2016, Functional classification of Polish municipalities for the purposes of spatial planning monitoring, Geographical Review, 88(4), 469-488. https://rcin.org.pl/dlibra/doccontent?id=61605
Śleszyński P., Wiedermann K., 2020, Studium szacium liczby i struktury pracujących oraz bazy ekonomicznej miast w Polsce, Prace Komisji Geografii Przemysłu Polskiego Towarzystwa Geograficznego, 34(4), 184-205. https://doi.org/10.24917/20801653.344.12
Urso G., 2016, Polycentric development policies: a reflection on the Italian ‘National Strategy for Inner Areas’,
Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 223, 456-461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2016.05.275
Vandermotten C., Roelandts M., Cornut P., 2007, European polycentrism: Towards a more efficient and/or a more equitable development?, [in:] N. Cattan (ed.), Cities and networks in Europe: A critical approach of polycentrism, John Libbey Eurotext, Esher, 51-62.
Veneri P., Burgalasi D., 2010, Questioning polycentric development and its effects: issues of definition and measurement for the Italian NUTS 2 Regions, MPRA Paper, 26637. https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/26637/
Weber A. F., 1899, The growth of cities in the nineteenth century, The Macmillan Company, New York.
Węgleński J., 1992, Urbanisation without modernisation?, Institute of Sociology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw.
Zagożdżon A., 1983, The role of industrialization and urbanization processes in the current and prospective functioning of Poland’s spatial economy, [in:] Diagnoza stanu gospodarki Polski, Biuletyn KPZK PAN, 123, Warszawa.