Spatial differentiation of infrastructure in Polish counties: the role of demographic and environmental indicators
PDF

Keywords

infrastructure
counties
logarithmic synergy measure
demographic
environmental

How to Cite

Dziekański, P., Popławski , Łukasz . and Pawlik , A. (2026) “Spatial differentiation of infrastructure in Polish counties: the role of demographic and environmental indicators”, Economics and Environment, 97(2), p. 1341. doi:10.34659/eis.2026.97.2.1341.

Abstract

An analysis of 314 Polish land counties in 2014, 2021, and 2022 reveals persistent spatial disparities in demographic, environmental, and infrastructural spheres. Environmental indicators show the greatest variability, while infrastructure exhibits the highest level of polarisation. The study aims to assess the impact of specific demographic and environmental conditions on infrastructure development. Taxonomic methods were applied to construct synthetic measures, and relationships were analysed using descriptive statistics and Spearman’s rank correlation based on data from Statistics Poland. The results indicate that challenges in each sphere develop largely independently, with counties experiencing low infrastructure and depopulation being particularly vulnerable to marginalisation. Targeted regional policy is recommended, focusing on counties with high infrastructure polarisation or low infrastructure levels in depopulating areas, while considering the interconnections between demographic, environmental, and infrastructural factors.

PDF

References

Acevedo, S., & José, C. (2019). Multi-Response Optimization of Porous Asphalt Mixtures Reinforced with Aramid and Polyolefin Fibers Employing the CRITIC-TOPSIS Based on Taguchi Methodology. Materials, 12(22), 3789. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma12223789

Blaszke, M., Oleńczuk-Paszel, A., Sompolska-Rzechuła, A., & Śpiewak-Szyjka, M. (2024). Demographic Change and the Housing Stock of Large and Medium-Sized Cities in the Context of Sustainable Development. Sustainability, 16, 10907. https://doi.org/10.3390/su162410907

Broniewicz, E. (2013a). Efektywność kosztowa polityki ekologicznej - identyfikacja kosztów. Handel Wewnętrzny, 6A(1), 94-102. https://doi.org/10.15611/pn.2013.318.13 (in Polish).

Broniewicz, E. (2013b). Ex-ante analysis model of the cost-effectiveness of environmental policy regulations. Architecture, Civil Engineering, Environment, 12(2), 119-30. http://dx.doi.org/10.21307/acee-2019-028

Chen, F., & Chopra, S. S. (2025). Integrating socio-demographic factors for equitable resilience in networked-urban infrastructure systems. Urban Sustainability, 5, 23. https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00195-y

Çınar, I. T. (2023). Regional development trap and economic complexity in Turkey: Evidence from provincial data. Regional Science Policy & Practice, 15(9), 2224-2253. https://doi.org/10.1111/rsp3.12719

Dang, D., Li, X., Lyu, X., Liu, S., Dou, H., Li, M., Wang, K., & Cao, W. (2025). Changing of the coordination of socioeconomic development and the environment as sustainable development progresses. Geography and Sustainability, 6(3), 2025, 100245, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geosus.2024.09.009

Dobrzańska, J., Nadolny, A., Kalbarczyk, R., & Ziemiańska, M. (2022). Urban resilience and residential greenery—The evidence from Poland. Sustainability, 14(18), 11317. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811317

Dolata, M. (2014). Infrastruktura społeczna jako czynnik kształtujący konkurencyjność regionu. Marketing i Rynek, 10, 35-43. (in Polish).

Glova, J., Bernatík, W., & Tulai, O. (2020). Determinant Effects of Political and Economic Factors on Country Risk: An Evidence from the EU Countries. Montenegrin journal of economics, 16, 37-53. https://doi.org/10.14254/1800-5845/2020.16-1.3

Grabowski, Z. J., Matsler, A. M., Thiel, C., McPhillips, L., Hum, R., Bradshaw, A., Miller, T., & Redman, C. (2017). Infrastructures as socio eco technical systems: Five considerations for interdisciplinary dialogue. Journal of Infrastructure Systems, 23(4), 04017024. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)IS.1943-555X.0000383

Gorzelak, G. (2004). Polska polityka regionalna wobec zróżnicowań polskiej przestrzeni. Studia Regionalne i Lokalne. 4(18) , 37-72. (in Polish).

Helseth, E. V., Nordtug, H., Skavhaug, I. M., & Gómez-Baggethun, E. (2025). Beyond green growth: Mapping sustainability pathways for rural transformations in Norway, Environmental Science & Policy, Volume 170, 2025, 104110, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2025.104110

Kakar, S. K., Wang, J., Arshed, N., Thi Le Hien, T., Akhter, S., & Abdullahi, N. M. (2025). he impact of circular economy, sustainable infrastructure, and green FinTech on biodiversity in Europe: A holistic approach, Technology in Society, 81, 102841, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2025.102841

Klepacki, B., & Koper, M. (2018). Stan i kierunki rozwoju infrastruktury drogowej w Polsce. Ekonomika I Organizacja Logistyki, 2(4), 5–19. https://doi.org/10.22630/EIOL.2017.2.4.31 (in Polish).

Kolosivskyi, N. (2025). Classification of factors affecting the formation and development of social infrastructure. Human Geography Journal, 38, 58–64. https://doi.org/10.26565/2076-1333-2025-38-07

Kopeć, E. (2021). Political and economic prerequisites of legislation and legal regulations in the area of natural environment protection. Horyzonty polityki, 41, 31-45. https://doi.org/10.35765/hp.2144

Kopeć, E., & Kulczycka, J. (2025). Modelling and Visualization Tools for Resource Decoupling at Meso- and Micro-Levels: Case Study in Poland. Resources, 14(4), 66. https://doi.org/10.3390/resources14040066

Kukuła, K., & Bogocz, D. (2014). Zero Unitarization Method and Its Application in Ranking. Research in Agriculture Economic and Regional Studies, 7(3), 5-13. https://www.ers.edu.pl/pdf-93141-27232?filename=ZERO-UNITARIZATION-METHOD.pdf

Li, X., Deng, Y., Liu, B., Yang, J., Li, M., Jing, W., & Chen, Z. (2024). GDP spatial differentiation in the perspective of urban functional zones. Cities, 151, 105126, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2024.105126

Lian, T., & Li, C. (2024). Linking Environmental Sustainability and Financial Resilience through the Environmental Footprints and Their Determinants: A Panel Data Approach for G7 Countries. Sustainability, 16(17), 7746. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177746

Nuta, F., Shahbaz, M., Khan, I., Cutcu, I., Khan, H., & Eren M. V. (2024). Dynamic impact of demographic features, FDI, and technological innovations on ecological footprint: Evidence from European emerging economies. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 31, 18683–18700. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-024-32345-7

Popławski, Ł., Grzelak, A., & Dziekański, P. (2025). Still trade-off or already synergy between waste management and the environment? In the light of experience at the level of the voivodeship in Poland. Economics and Environment, 91(4), 886. https://doi.org/10.34659/eis.2024.91.4.886

Prus, P., & Sikora, M. (2021). The Impact of Transport Infrastructure on the Sustainable Development of the Region—Case Study. Agriculture , 11(4), 279. https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture11040279

Ryszawska, B. (2013). Zielona gospodarka w dokumentach strategicznych Unii Europejskiej. Ekonomia i Środowisko, 3 (46), 26-37. https://bazekon.icm.edu.pl/bazekon/element/bwmeta1.element.ekon-element-000171307955 (in Polish).

Sompolska-Rzechuła, A. (2021). Selection of the Optimal Way of Linear Ordering of Objects: Case of Sustainable Development in EU Countries. Stat. Stat. Econ. J., 101, 24–36.

Spychała, M. (2018). Poziom rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego powiatów w Polsce. Research Papers of Wrocław University of Economics, nr 527. (in Polish).

Sumaryana, A., Miftah, A. Z., Widianingsih, I. & Karlina, N (2025). Turning over a new leaf: Post‐Covid infrastructure development planning and financing strategies in the organizational environment of Bandung City. Regional Science Policy & Practice, 17(3), 100170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rspp.2024.100170

Szlachta, J. (2017). Ewolucja wsparcia regionów słabiej rozwiniętych przez Unię Europejską. Biuletyn Komitetu Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania Kraju PAN, 268, 9-25. (in Polish).

Udemba, E. N., Khan, N. U., & Shah, S. A. R. (2024). Demographic change effect on ecological footprint: A tripartite study of urbanisation, aging population, and environmental mitigation technology. Journal of Cleaner Production, 437, 140406, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.140406

Wang, C., Wang, L., Gu, T., Yin, J., & Hao, E. (2023). CRITIC-TOPSIS-Based Evaluation of Smart Community Safety: A Case Study of Shenzhen, China. Buildings, 13, 476. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020476

Warner, J., & Meissner, R. (2025). Conflicts over periurban green infrastructure: Unresolved social problems with nature-based urban solutions. Geoforum, 159, 104212, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geoforum.2025.104212

Xu, X., & Yang, L. (2025). Green bond financing and regional ecological resilience: The role of financial agglomeration mechanisms. Finance Research Letters, 80, 107355, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2025.107355

Yang, Ch., Zeng, W. & Yang, X. (2020). Coupling coordination evaluation and sustainable development pattern of geo-ecological environment and urbanisation in Chongqing municipality, China. Sustainable Cities and Society, 61, 102271, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2020.102271

Zhang, L., Wang, S., Zhai, W., He, Z., Shi, W., Li, Y., & Zhao, Ch. (2025). How does Blue-Green Infrastructure affect the urban thermal environment across various functional zones? Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 105, 128698, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2025.128698

Zhang, Z., Martin, K. L., Stevenson, K. T., & Yao, Y. (2022). Equally green? Understanding the distribution of urban green infrastructure across student demographics in four public school districts in North Carolina, USA. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 67, 127434, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127434

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Copyright (c) 2026 Economics and Environment

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.