The Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare revisited for Poland in transition

In the paper, the Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW) for Poland was calculated. The research covers the time period between 1990 and 2003. The lowest values of ISEW were observed in 1990, when Poland still experienced the economic crisis. Up to 1992, we can observe a dynamic growth then slowing down and progressing again in succeeding years, which eventually shows back a new and more moderate tendency started in 2000. It seems, that the stagnation effect in ISEW can be attributed, in order of potential, to categories like: losses caused by commuting and road accidents, long-term environmental damage, expenditures on consumer durables, losses due to ozone layer depletion, change in net international position, depletion of non-renewable resources. Moreover, growing welfare inequalities penalize the value of ISEW in recent years much more significantly than before

The legal, administrative, and governance frameworks of spatial policy, planning, and land use: Interdependencies, barriers, and directions of change

The article provides an overview of the legal and administrative aspects of spatial governance and planning and of the related challenges. The legal dimension of spatial planning, administrative spatial planning traditions, as well as different frameworks and conditions for the governance of territorial regions are briefly introduced. On this basis, the various contributions that compose the special issue are framed and presented to the readers. In conclusion, a number of directions for further research are identified. Overall, the article serves as an editorial introduction and the various issues it touches upon are further specified in the individual contributions the compose the special issue

Economic and legal instruments of local industrial policy : the case of Poland

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to diagnose and evaluate local spatial policy in Poland regarding the development of industrial activities. Design/Methodology/Approach: Legal and economic instruments currently used in local governments at their lowest level (commune) have been analyzed. The study used methods typical of social sciences, i.e., methods of empirical cognition, descriptive analysis, and deductive and inductive reasoning. In addition, the legal and dogmatic method was used in legal regulations analysis. The key tools of spatial policy were also analyzed: studies of spatial development conditions and directions as well as local spatial development plans in communes covered in the industrial use to the highest degree in these plans. Findings: Analysis of the instruments used by communes in Poland as part of industrial policy shows that they are not always adequate and keep up with the growing needs associated with strong changes in the organization of industry. Industrial policy at the local level in Poland is a relatively new phenomenon. Therefore, there is a lack of experience that would allow developing long-term legal and economic solutions. This would give communes the basis to develop stable plans and take action to develop Industry 4.0. The state should implement a program to help communes related to stimulation of desirable, i.e. modern industries. Practical Implications: Results of the analyses carried out should serve as the basis for verifying the legal regulations and economic instruments used by communes regarding industrial policy. Appropriate suggestions have been made in this regard. Originality/Value: This is the first comprehensive study for Poland, and its value is because this country before 1989 developed in the conditions of a centrally controlled economy and socialist, accelerated industrialization. After 1989, industrial policy was considered a “communist survival” with great disadvantage to the development of the country. It has only been in recent years in public debate and top-level government documents that this issue has been restored to its due rank.peer-reviewe

Sonochemically Fabricated Microelectrode Arrays for Use as Sensing Platforms

The development, manufacture, modification and subsequent utilisation of sonochemically-formed microelectrode arrays is described for a range of applications. Initial fabrication of the sensing platform utilises ultrasonic ablation of electrochemically insulating polymers deposited upon conductive carbon substrates, forming an array of up to 70,000 microelectrode pores cm−2. Electrochemical and optical analyses using these arrays, their enhanced signal response and stir-independence area are all discussed. The growth of conducting polymeric “mushroom” protrusion arrays with entrapped biological entities, thereby forming biosensors is detailed. The simplicity and inexpensiveness of this approach, lending itself ideally to mass fabrication coupled with unrivalled sensitivity and stir independence makes commercial viability of this process a reality. Application of microelectrode arrays as functional components within sensors include devices for detection of chlorine, glucose, ethanol and pesticides. Immunosensors based on microelectrode arrays are described within this monograph for antigens associated with prostate cancer and transient ischemic attacks (strokes)

From the research on natural environment physiognomy

Values of natural environment in the connection with human activity create various landscape combinations with a specific atmosphere of the place (spirit of the place, genius loci). Spirit of the place is a synthesis of nature and culture based on historical past. The man perceives information about environment thanks to processes formed by stimuli coming from the environment and also, through his motivations and needs, including aesthetical needs. Each type of culture, and, within its framework, particular social groups and, in a sense, every individual, have their own hierarchy of needs. those needs also undergo historical changes. Satisfying aesthetical needs is connected with aesthetical experiences. There are three kinds of those: the ones connected with physiological condition (nice feeling ofrelaxation), tasting nature as a pure show and admiring nature in relation to religious or metaphysical experiences. The aesthetic valuation of landscape is a valuation of actually existing environment and, more precisely, of its aesthetic values, arising in the mind through the process of perception and resulting in a defined experience. Such a valuation is non-relative and subjective. To simplify the procedure the term of visual attractiveness of landscape should by introduced (V AL), connected with an active approach. Visual attractiveness of landscape should be understood as the function of really existing landscape (L) and unified standards defining the system of aesthetic values (AV): VAL= f(L x {AV}) Aesthctic values of landscape in town planning should by considered from two points of view: as visual attractiveness of particular regions (natural and natural-cultural landscapes) and as visual attractiveness of particular views. those elements are supplementary thus they should be considered together. It has been assumed that landscape diversity should by considered as divided into structural (connected with the structure) and functional ( concerning functioning of the landscape). Physiognomic diversity has also been determined through the form (shape and contrast of the landscape) and contents (being the kind of elements within the landscape and the way it is filled with them, determined also by the cultural factor). It has been determined that visual attractiveness of landscape is the average of two factors: diversity of form, defined as the average of the sum of shape and length factor and of contrast; diversity of contents, defined as the average of the sum of horizontal relief extent and horizontal extent of coverage and the abundance of vegetation, diminished by disadvantageous influence of human activity. The valuation has been performed in the vicity of Pińczów (southern Poland), on the are of 77 sq. km. the above mentioned research of attractiveness of view are the development of the method of determining visual attractiveness of landscape on the basis of physiognomic diversification. The research has proven that the vicinity of Pińczów is characterised by special and lexique landscape values. Yet their proper use depends in a large measure on the policy of local authorities and the behaviour of the inhabitants. The presence of high landscape values may contribute the development of tourism

Identification and assessment of demographic processes in Poland with particular emphasis on rural areas

The aim of the research was to provide detailed spatial identification and explanation of the main and most characteristic demographic phenomena and processes in Poland, with particular emphasis on the specificity of rural areas and urban-rural relations. Data on population phenomena and processes were analysed by division into 10 categories of communes, distinguished on the basis of the administrative-settlement hierarchy, socio-economic functions and morphological features. The analysis includes issues related to natural and migration movements, demographic forecasts and conclusions and recommendations for regional and local development. Depopulation and its negative effects, related to, among others, the burden on security systems and social welfare, are considered to be the greatest challenge. It is also postulated to develop new demographic forecasts (current ones are not reliable for rural areas, because they do not take into account the actual scale of emigration in internal and foreign traffic). Analyses, assessments and forecasts should increasingly take into account the division of villages into their various categories in terms of their functional specificity (suburban, typically agricultural, tourist, transitional areas, etc.), and abandon the administrative division into urban, urban-rural and rural communes. In connection with the predicted and irreversible depopulation of the majority of rural areas on approximately 90% of the country's area, it is urgent to start analytical work on a national plan for the optimization of rural development, taking into account such issues as, in particular, more effective adjustment of the network of local services, prevention of further dispersion of development, reorganization of local settlement network systems, possibilities of corrections and changes in administrative divisions at the local and district level, migration-settlement and tourism-recreational policy