Die neue territoriale Struktur der Verwaltung und die regionale sozioökonomische Struktur in Polen

Abstract

At the start of the year 1999, a new division of administration came into force. In this context, the two level structure (voivodeship, gmina) was replaced by a three level structure (voivodeship, powiat, gmina). The number of voivodeships was reduced from 49 to 16, and the individual levels of administration were given greater independence. The determination and delimitation of voivodeships contains additional political compromises. This article examines the correspondence or the deviation in the territorial division according to the new voivodeships in comparison to the actually existing socio-economic regions which actually exist in Poland. These regions are represented in this study by the nodal settlement systems and by the scientific systems. The comparison comes to the conclusion that, if there were to be the greatest possible alignment to the existing regions in the country, Poland would best have been divided into 10 voivodes hips. The greatest deviations from this ideal plan are to be found in the peripheral regions of Poland.