Interrelations between complexity of demographic policy instruments and investment attractiveness at local level – evidence from Poland

Abstract

This paper presents examples of complex instruments oriented toward improvement of demographic situation at local level, represented by communes (local regions in Poland), and identifies links between communes’ investment attractiveness and the level of complexity of the demographic instruments they implement. We performed a multilayer research on 16 communes in Poland. The research encompassed an analysis of communes’ official documents, an electronic audit of their official website portals and Bulletins of Public Information, and structured surveys with official representatives of communes’ authorities. We identified significant differences in communes’ approach toward preparation and implementation of instruments aimed at the improvement of local demographic variables. Those differences depend on the level of potential investment attractiveness represented by a given commune. We have distinguished communes which are leading, following, or performing moderately when it comes to giving importance to demographic challenges in public policy discourse. Case studies presented in this paper and the proposed typology of communes constitute a rudimentary catalogue of possible communes’ responses to demographic challenges. The presented tools can be used by the local authorities to raise the potential investment attractiveness of their region and support them in policy making.