EFFECTS OF ECONOMIC CRISIS ON THE ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OF COMPANIES IN PODLASKIE VOIVODESHIP (Skutki kryzysu gospodarczego w swietle wynikow ekonomicznych firm w wojewodztwie podlaskim)

While there are various views on the causes of the current financial crisis - advocates of interventionism blame excessive liberalisation of the financial sector; liberals criticise monetary policies which use the interest rate as a main tool - there is no doubt that it primarily affects non-financial and public sector customers. Companies located in Podlaskie Voivodeship began to feel the effects of the global crisis in 2009. The following year brought no improvement in financial results. This translates into declining incomes and consumer spending, and contributes to the widening of the gap in living standards between Podlasie and other regions of the country.