Jak być małym miastem i przeżyć w Polsce: praktyczny poradnik

The text examines the developmental gap between Poland's major metropolises and its smaller urban centers. It criticizes the 'polarization-diffusion' strategy of the 2000s, which favored large cities, and discusses the subsequent 'Strategy for Responsible Development' (SOR) under the PiS government. While noting issues like 'facade modernization' and local political stagnation, the author provides examples of small towns—such as Ostrów Wielkopolski and Słupsk—that have successfully implemented innovative housing, social integration, and revitalization projects by leveraging local potential rather than imitating Western models.

• The 'polarization-diffusion' strategy adopted by the Donald Tusk government in the 'Poland 2030' report aimed to strengthen large 'locomotives' of growth, assuming development patterns would naturally flow to smaller towns and villages, but instead increased regional disparities.
• By 2013, a significant economic divide existed where residents of medium-sized Polish towns (20,000 to 100,000 inhabitants) earned only 56% of the income of those in large metropolises, falling behind even rural residents.
• The 'Strategy for Responsible Development' (SOR) introduced by the PiS government identified 255 medium-sized cities and 122 cities losing socio-economic functions as targets for a support package valued at 650 million euro.
• Large Polish cities have often suffered from 'imitative policy,' investing in oversized projects like stadiums in Poznań, fast-traffic routes in Warsaw, or the failed Gdynia Kosakowo airport, based on superficial Western models.
• Many small municipalities engage in 'facade modernization,' which involves destroying historic landscapes by removing old trees and installing concrete paving, while prioritizing roads and parking over public spaces.
• Specific small and medium cities have successfully implemented non-imitative models: Ostrów Wielkopolski in affordable housing, Słupsk in public-private partnerships and revitalization, Gorzów Wielkopolski in Roma cultural integration, and Leszno in combating energy poverty by maintaining a municipal heating plant.
• Energy poverty affects over 40% of Poles according to British standards, largely due to the privatization of public services, which increased costs for electricity, water, and heat.

APA

Gill-Piątek, H. (2017). Jak być małym miastem i przeżyć w Polsce: praktyczny poradnik. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/jak-byc-malym-miastem-i-przezyc-w-polsce-praktyczny-poradnik/

Chicago

Gill-Piątek, Hanna. Jak być małym miastem i przeżyć w Polsce: praktyczny poradnik. Green European Journal, 2017. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/jak-byc-malym-miastem-i-przezyc-w-polsce-praktyczny-poradnik/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gill-Piątek |first1=Hanna |title=Jak być małym miastem i przeżyć w Polsce: praktyczny poradnik |publisher=Green European Journal |date=27 November 2017 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/jak-byc-malym-miastem-i-przezyc-w-polsce-praktyczny-poradnik/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gillpitek2017jak, author = {Gill-Piątek, Hanna}, title = {{Jak być małym miastem i przeżyć w Polsce: praktyczny poradnik}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2017}, month = nov, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/jak-byc-malym-miastem-i-przezyc-w-polsce-praktyczny-poradnik/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }