Figure 1.
GDP per capita 2000–2022 in Poland (PLN)
Source: own elaboration based on data from Statistics Poland
Map. 1.
Municipalities that took part in the survey and their declaration on industrial plant closure
Source: own elaboration based on survey results (N=101) and previous desk research (Karpiński et al. 2013, 2015; reports on ownership transformations from 1990–1998)
Table 1.
Mann–Whitney U test results for the two groups of municipalities being compared
| element of local economic policy (instrument/approach used) | average ranks* | statistical significance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | ||
| The municipality’s policy is aimed at attracting large strategic investors | 41.61 | 58.5 | 0.003 |
| The municipality’s policy is aimed at attracting foreign investors | 42.06 | 54.47 | 0.025 |
| The municipality’s policy is aimed at the development of entrepreneurship among residents | 48.64 | 47.08 | 0.752 |
| The municipality is promoted economically at investment fairs | 42.22 | 56.67 | 0.009 |
| Local authorities cooperate with local entrepreneurs (e.g. in the form of a municipal economic council) | 45.27 | 49.74 | 0.412 |
| There is a business incubator in the municipality | 45.22 | 53.51 | 0.036 |
| There are local business environment institutions in the municipality (i.e. local development agencies or local entrepreneurship centres) | 46.00 | 52.32 | 0.201 |
| An economic activity/activation zone is located in the municipality | 43.46 | 53.46 | 0.053 |
| The municipality offers free investment areas | 43.75 | 53.28 | 0.055 |
| The zone/investment areas in the municipality are intended for investors who want to conduct business in specific industries | 38.31 | 48.08 | 0.056 |
| The municipality offers investors a system of tax incentives (e.g. property tax exemptions) | 44.00 | 52.89 | 0.098 |
| Local authorities financially support newly established enterprises in the municipality (e.g. through loan and guarantee funds) | 46.68 | 48.65 | 0.652 |
| There is an entrepreneur service point in the municipality/city office | 44.10 | 54.94 | 0.041 |
| The municipality cooperates with external institutions (such as the Polish Investment and Trade Agency or the Regional Investor Service Centre) in activities aimed at attracting investors | 43.46 | 52.60 | 0.090 |
| Programmes are being implemented in the municipality to activate residents in the labour market | 41.30 | 52.10 | 0.036 |
* The Mann–Whitney U test compares the differences in mean rank values between group 1 (municipalities that have experienced industrial plant closure) and group 2 (municipalities that have not experienced industrial plant closure).