W stronę nowej struktury przestrzennej wsi w Polsce - czynniki zmiany
Towards a New Spatial Structure of Rural Areas in Poland: Drivers of Change

Summary/Abstract: Transformations of the spatial structures of rural areas in Poland after 1990 have proceeded in an evolutionary manner, depending on geographical location, in particular proximity to large urban centres, as well as accessibility to transport and communication routes. These processes have taken place under the influence of the political and economic transformation, accession to the European Union, and the introduction of new market mechanisms. Contemporary rural areas are shaped by two opposing trends: rapid urbanisation in suburban zones and marginalisation and depopulation in peripheral areas. The main objective of the study was to assess the impact of demographic changes and the evolution of local labour markets on the settlement structure of rural areas. The article identified the influence of characteristic transformations in rural land use on the development opportunities and directions of rural areas in Poland. The paper presented a comparative-historical analysis, confronting the current state of spatial development with planning concepts from the 1970s and 1980s. The study was based on a comprehensive synthesis of the relevant literature and an analysis of the spatial distribution of changes in key indicators in the period 1999-2024 (population size, migration balance, and average annual inflow of international migrants). The study also proposed an original typology of five characteristic types of rural areas, for which detailed cartographic analyses of morphological changes in selected localities were carried out. The authors pointed to the negative consequences of uncontrolled suburbanisation (urban sprawl), such as spatial chaos, landscape degradation, and high infrastructure costs. They emphasised the need to follow the principles of spatial order and to promote compact development, which supports social integration and economic efficiency. For areas at risk of marginalisation, the implementation of the smart village concept, digitalisation, and the development of public transport may provide an opportunity to slow depopulation and strengthen the resilience of local labour markets.

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