Subregional Growth Poles in the Competition for Development Factors

This article presents the findings of a two-year research project¹. The main aim of the project was to analyse the role and growth possibilities of subregional centres in Poland, taking into account polarisation processes and a knowledge-based economy. The cities chosen for their degree of competitiveness and growth possibilities were those of over 40000 inhabitants, not situated in close proximity to capitals of Polish regions. Apart from that questionnaires were sent by post to all previously identified subregional growth poles and municipalities of their surroundings. Moreover, ten subregional growth poles were chosen to be analysed as case studies. Six fragmentary hypotheses were verified in the research: historical hypothesis, metropolitan hypothesis, hypothesis of internal resources, networking hypothesis, hypothesis of strong surroundings, administrative-political hypothesis.