Ta książka jest udostępniana na licencji Creative Commons -Uznanie autorstwa-Użycie niekomercyjne-Bez utworów zależnych 4.0 Międzynarodowe Determinanty proDuktywności pracy wykonywanej zDalnie

Purpose:The aim of the study was to identify the mesoeconomic determinants of regional development in Poland based on intermunicipal cooperation. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research used analytical methods, including the local development index, determined for Polish local government units (municipalities) in 2008 , subsequently evaluated in 2015 programming the inter-municipal cooperation model, the method of diagnostic survey, comparative and descriptive analysis was applied. Findings: There is need for a way of regional development modeling based not only on competitiveness indicators (such as the aggregate Local Development Index), but also on a paradigm of partnership and differentiated cooperation conditions in functional areas. Practical Implications: The Local Development Index can provide a starting point for programming alternative developments in the functional areas. At least two local development roadmaps can be used in practice. First, the idea of homogeneous areas development, programming the growth of socio-economic cohesion at territorial meso-level. Second, the idea for areas with natural spatial and settlement diversity, conscious maintenance of diversity.

The paper discusses selected trend changes in the Polish wood-based products market under conditions of economic uncertainty. From a mesoeconomic approach, using Big Data resources and online e-commerce tools, the wood market was analyzed from the perspective of demand and online user activity. In terms of time scope, the research covered the period 2019-2021, including the pandemic year. Secondary data based on Google Ads and Google Analytics were analyzed. The study used selected open-source analytical tools, including Google Keyword Planner and Data Studio. The controversial hypothesis, which assumes that potential demand for wood and wood-based products shows a sustainable trend even under economic uncertainty, was verified. The findings were visualized and discussed. As a result, although the rationale for confirming the assumed hypothesis was not obtained. However, the results of the research proved to be interesting, out of the box. It turned out that the popularity and multifaceted use of wood is not limited by typical barriers. The consequence of the market situation is a growing demand for wood, but at the same time a supply deficit. This is a challenge for the wood market benchmarking and formulating practical recommendations for economic policy in the wood-based sector in Poland.

Rural development issues include also those areas of economic politics and public policies which are connected with intermunicipal cooperation. It appears that development programming based on traditional pro-competitive tools and actions is inadequate. This article identifies the chosen aspects of integrated rural development in Poland which refer to the cooperation between local governments aimed at territorial development and, in particular, the development of rural functional areas. An attempt is made to define an intermunicipal cooperation model based on the analysis of rural municipalities’ potential for development. The empirical research was conducted with the application of the Aggregate Indicator of Local Development defined for Polish local government units in the years 2008-2014, evaluated in 2018-2020. Conclusions and recommendations were made on the basis of the current status of knowledge, own research and the principles of descriptive economics.

Purpose:The aim of this study is to show the phenomenon of financial exclusion in rural areas as a problem limiting socio-economic development. Design/Methodology/Approach: The opinions of the residents of Gołdapski County regarding the tools and services of modern banking were examined, assessing the relationship between them and the demographic characteristics of the respondents. Findings: Financial exclusion was found to particularly affect older people i.e., over 60 years of age. This is especially true for people who were born in the years when e-banking and other modern banking services associated with IT development were not available. An additional factor is also the level of education of the respondents. Practical Implications: The development of rural areas depends both on their stock of human capital, including the age and level of education of the population, but also on the banking infrastructure that facilitates, among other things, job creation and thus limits the migration of young people from these areas. In the case of Gołdapski county which is attractive for tourists and well equipped with this kind of infrastructure, the factors influencing the phenomenon of financial exclusion were the lack of knowledge and fear of the complexity of services, as well as the age of the respondents, often causing self-exclusion in this area. Originality/Value: The research results included in the article fill the cognitive gap concerning the phenomenon of financial exclusion in rural areas, even those which are attractive in terms of tourism. They emphasize the importance of age as a factor causing the formation of exclusion, including financial self-exclusion, especially among people who were born in the years before the dynamic development of banking using IT techniques.