Bulletin of Geography. Socio-economic Series

Title:
The geography of openness to foreign trade in Poland: The role of special economic zones and foreign-owned entities

Authors

Jarosław M. Nazarczuk - University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Economic Sciences, Department of Economic and Regional Policy, Oczapowskiego 4/204, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland; phone: +48 895 234 265, e-mail: jaroslaw.nazarczuk@uwm.edu.pl (corresponding author)

Stanisław Umiński - University of Gdańsk, Research Centre on European Integration, Armii Krajowej 119/121, room 117, 81-824 Sopot, Poland; phone: +48 585 231 227, e-mail: uminski@univ.gda.pl

Keywords
trade openness, regions, LAU 1, special economic zones, FDI

Abstract
The aim of this paper is to present the spatial distribution of openness to foreign trade assessed at the local level (LAU 1, poviats) in Poland, between 2005 and 2012, with particular reference to its two determinants: activity of foreign- owned enterprises (FOEs) and functioning of special economic zones (SEZs). With the use of data from different sources, including the foreign trade statistics for the Polish regions, constituting a set of indicators on openness to foreign trade, we deliberate on the determinants and the character of regional openness, as well as the quality of the proxies used in order to assess their spatial distribution. Our results indicate high regional dissimilarities in terms of export activity, correlated with the broader picture of regional inequalities. The role of FOEs has been crucial in determining the spatial distribution of exports. As regards the SEZs, their sole contribution increased significantly during the time span. In the times of the world financial crisis, the export performance diversity of poviats increased temporarily but diminished afterwards.

Pages:
97-111

DOI:
10.2478/bog-2018-0007

BGSS No. 39 (2018)