SOCIO-ECONOMIC REGIONAL DIFFERENCES IN POLAND

The article presents the problem of spatial differentiation of Poland at the regional level on the basis of selected and available statistical data. Special attention is drawn to the phenomenon of differentiation and its two forms: diversification and disparity. The spatial effect of scale has been introduced to present the role of individual regions and the significance of distribution and homogeneity (or heterogeneity) of the population. The notion 'region' is explained, its types are described as well as the essence of spatial order is presented. By using a set of selected criteria and applying the zero unitarisation method the author indicates problem regions as well as provinces (voivodeships) possessing the best conditions..