Spatial inequalities of socio-economic development in Poland at the subregional level – dynamics and determinants

Abstract

The socio-economic development of regions constitutes a key element of sustainable development in countries, affecting residents' standard of living, the dynamics of labor markets, and the structure of local economies. This study aims to examine spatial disparities in socio-economic development across Poland at the NUTS 3 level using a synthetic indicator, LHDI (Local Human Development Index). The spatial dependencies of socio-economic development indicators were also examined using Moran's autocorrelation to determine whether strong sub-regions acting as local economic centers positively impact the development of neighboring regions. The added value of analyzing these dependencies lies in providing valuable guidelines for shaping regional policy, which may be helpful in developing more effective startegies for reducing territorial inequalities.