<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>The symmetry and/or asymmetry in terms of cross-border openness of service providers is examined in this article, for the cases of two border twin towns: Cieszyn/Český Těšín at the Polish-Czech border, and Gubin/Guben at the Polish-German border. To assess the level of openness of firms towards clients from the other side of the border, four trans-border categories were examined: neighbour’s language visible at store location; business offers in the language of the neighbour; the possibilities of payment in the neighbour’s currency; and the staff’s knowledge of the language. This enabled a comparison of both parts of the particular twin towns in relation to the character of cross-border openness, as well as an assessment of their symmetry/asymmetry. Comparisons of Gubin/Guben and Cieszyn/Český Těšín with respect to the analysed features were also carried out. The analysis shows significant variation in the level of cross-border openness towards clients from neighbouring countries. Whereas in the Polish-Czech town a relative symmetry was observed, in the Polish-German case, significant asymmetry was noted.</p></abstract>

The symmetry and/or asymmetry in terms of cross-border openness of service providers is examined in this article, for the cases of two border twin towns: Cieszyn/Český Těšín at the Polish-Czech border, and Gubin/Guben at the Polish-German border. To assess the level of openness of firms towards clients from the other side of the border, four trans-border categories were examined: neighbour’s language visible at store location; business offers in the language of the neighbour; the possibilities of payment in the neighbour’s currency; and the staff’s knowledge of the language. This enabled a comparison of both parts of the particular twin towns in relation to the character of cross-border openness, as well as an assessment of their symmetry/asymmetry. Comparisons of Gubin/Guben and Cieszyn/Český Těšín with respect to the analysed features were also carried out. The analysis shows significant variation in the level of cross-border openness towards clients from neighbouring countries. Whereas in the Polish-Czech town a relative symmetry was observed, in the Polish-German case, significant asymmetry was noted.

Symmetry or asymmetry? Cross-border openness of service providers in Polish-Czech and Polish-German border towns

Department of Spatial Management, Institute of Geography and Regional Development, University of Wrocław

Moravian Geographical Reports

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The symmetry and/or asymmetry in terms of cross-border openness of service providers is examined in this article, for the cases of two border twin towns:...

Symmetry or asymmetry? Cross-border openness of service providers in Polish-Czech and Polish-German border towns

Published Online: Apr 27, 2015

Page range: 2 - 12

Received: Oct 06, 2014

Accepted: Feb 05, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2015-0001

Keywords
trans-border shopping trips, border twin towns, divided cities, cross-border relations, Polish-Czech border, Polish-German border

© Sylwia Dołzbłasz

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Symmetry or asymmetry? Cross-border openness of service providers in Polish-Czech and Polish-German border towns

Published Online: Apr 27, 2015

Page range: 2 - 12

Received: Oct 06, 2014

Accepted: Feb 05, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2015-0001

Keywordstrans-border shopping trips, border twin towns, divided cities, cross-border relations, Polish-Czech border, Polish-German border

© Sylwia Dołzbłasz

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
trans-border shopping trips, border twin towns, divided cities, cross-border relations, Polish-Czech border, Polish-German border