Changes in the functional structure of small towns in the least developed regions of Poland

Abstract

The main objective of this work was to describe the functional structure of small towns located in the least-developed Polish voivodships (the so-called eastern Polish wall) and its changes between 2008 and 2018. An additional goal was to measure the diversification level of the functions performed by these towns. The results show that the structure of functions performed by small towns in eastern Poland was relatively uncompetitive and characterized by high stability over time. The structure was dominated by functions related to non-market services and industry, which in their case do not generate high added value. The studied structures were also relatively homogenous. The combination of such features in the long term may slow down the economic growth of the surveyed towns and regions in which they are located.