Research background: Information infrastructure is a very important pillar within a knowledge-based economy. The widespread use of information and communication technologies facilitates effective communication, dissemination and processing of information and knowledge. It also creates new opportunities for the effective use of knowledge and information in building competitive advantage. Information infrastructure is also a significant determinant in the development of  territorial units, and therefore it affects the regional dimension of building the knowledge-based economy in Poland. Purpose of the article: The purpose of the study was to evaluate regional differentiation of the level of information infrastructure in Poland, and changes which occurred in this respect between 2010 and 2015. An attempt was made to provide an answer to the following question: Are regional differences in the level of information infrastructure in Poland increasing or decreasing, i.e. is a regional divergence or a regional convergence process taking place in this respect? Methods: Taxonomic methods were used, including linear ordering based on a synthetic variable and a method of grouping linearly-ordered objects. Findings & Value added: The regional differentiation of the level of information infra-structure in Poland has slightly decreased, which means, that a slow convergence process has taken place in this respect. This fact is confirmed by the value of the variation coefficient, which fell from a level of 17.6% in 2010 to a level of 14.4% in 2015. Convergence processes were observed in twelve provinces. In the case of seven of them, they had the nature of a catching-up effect, and in the case of the remaining five — a lagging-behind effect. Divergence processes were observed in four provinces. The Dolnośląskie and Mazowieckie Provinces distanced themselves from other areas of the country. In the Małopolskie and Opolskie Provinces a marginalisation effect was observed.

Research background: Modern cities often struggle with the problem of selecting an optimal model of development, which is adjusted to their needs and resources. A kind of response to this was the founding of the Cittaslow network, bringing together cities developing according to the slow city model. The Polish National Cittaslow Network was established in April 2007. The founders of the network were four cities from the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province (Biskupiec, Bisztynek, Lidzbark Warmiński and Reszel). The aim of the Polish National Cittaslow Network is to promote and spread the idea of good life by implementing in the cities appropriate solutions in the field of environmental policy, infrastructure, quality of urban life, hospitality and social cohesion. Currently, 28 cities belong to the Polish National Cittaslow Network. These cities are joined by a common idea and common goals adopted to improve the quality of the residents' life. However, each city has a different history, tradition, natural values, and also has a different socio-economic potential. Purpose of the article: The aim of the study was to assess the differentiation of the socio-economic potential of cities belonging to the Polish National Cittaslow Network. Methods: The research covered all member cities of the network. The synthetic index was used to assess the socio-economic potential of cities. The grouping of cities was carried out using the hierarchical Ward method. Findings & Value added: Differences in the socio-economic potential of the cities which belong to the Polish National Cittaslow Network are moderate. This is confirmed by the values of the synthetic index of this potential in each of the cities as well as coefficient value of its variation. Differences between the member cities were also verified by the results of grouping. As many as 7 groups were distinguished, including 2 composed of single entities. The conclusions arising from this research are as follows. Firstly, the slow city development model should be individually adapted to the capabilities of each city or group of cities similar to each other in terms of the socio-economic potential level. Secondly, the recommendations proposed in this study can make a useful contribution to discussions on the possible implementation of the slow city model in Poland, and its adaptation by individual cities. Furthermore, the research outcome can serve as a set of recommendations for Cittaslow member cities in other countries.

Research background: Identification of the effects achieved by cities owing to their membership in the Cittaslow network plays a role not only in the development of every city, but also in the growth of national and international Cittaslow networks. Being a member of the Cittaslow network, and thereby adopting the slow city development model, affects the process of urban management by directing it towards such activities that agree with the assumed development concept. The achieved effects, manifested in the social, economic, and spatial spheres, contribute to the improved quality of life in a slow city, which in turn influences its development. Purpose of the article: Identification of the effects of membership of Polish cities in the Polish National Cittaslow Network. Methods: The study included a diagnostic survey method. The diagnostic survey based on a standardized survey questionnaire was used to identify the effects achieved by the Polish cities in the Cittaslow network. The survey was addressed to mayors of all member cities in the Polish National Cittaslow Network. The survey was conducted in May 2020. Findings & value added: The most important effects to date of cities being members of the Polish National Cittaslow Network, and their scale, have been investigated. An attempt was made to determine in which areas of urban life the effects become observable in a relatively short time (a few years), and which effects are attainable after a longer period of time. Major barriers to obtaining the desired effects were also identified. The research fills in a gap in this scope, as it provides a complex analysis of the effects of the membership of cities in the national Cittaslow network as seen by the city authorities. The results can serve to make comparative analyses of the effects achieved on different levels of development in the national Cittaslow networks, particular-ly in view of the fact that the Polish National Cittaslow Network is the second largest network in the world with respect to the number of member cities.

Międzynarodowa współpraca miast dotyczy bardzo wielu płaszczyzn, m.in. gospodarczej, społecznej i kulturalnej. Współpraca ta jest uwarunkowana licznymi czynnikami, wśród których się wymienia: podobieństwa miast, wcześniejsze doświadczenia we wzajemnych relacjach, chęć wymiany dobrych praktyk w zarządzaniu, poprawę jakości życia mieszkańców oraz uwarunkowania ekonomiczne. Przykładem międzynarodowej współpracy miast jest sieć miast Cittaslow. Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie idei międzynarodowej współpracy miast na przykładzie sieci miast Cittaslow oraz zidentyfikowanie determinant i korzyści współpracy między miastami. Do sieci Cittaslow należy ponad 230 miast z całego świata. Źródłem współpracy tych miast jest ich podobieństwo, które w tym przypadku dotyczy ich wielkości i przyjętego modelu rozwoju. W ramach sieci Cittaslow współpracują miasta małe, które chcą się rozwijać na podstawie filozofii slow, a we współpracy z innymi podobnymi miastami upatrują wielu korzyści, zarówno w sferze przyrodniczej, społecznej, gospodarczej, jak i przestrzennej.

The purpose of this article has been to present the history of the Polish National Cittaslow Network, to discuss its development and to draw the attention to the diversity of network member cities. The authors emphasise the fact that the Polish National Cittaslow Network is developing very dynamically, and is the second largest network of Cittaslow in the world. Today, it is composed of 28 cities, of which 20 lie in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship. Other two centers are currently in the process of joining the network. The member cities are diverse in terms of their size as well as environmental or cultural assets. They are also diverse in terms of the level of socio-economic development. There are such cities in the network whose level of entrepreneurship, measured by the number of private sector businesses per 1,000 residents, is much higher than the average for the whole network (Rzgów, Murowana Goślina), but there are also cities with a very low level of entrepreneurship (Rejowiec Fabryczny, Jeziorany). Despite the differences, the cities associated in the network share the same concept and pursue shared aims in order to improve the quality of life for their inhabitants. They are proponents of implementing pro-social and pro-environmental measures, while striving to preserve the unique character of each of these cities.