Geographia Polonica (2019) vol. 92, iss. 3

Abstract

The aim of the study was to analyze changes in the command and control functions of cities in 2006 and 2016 based on the method of gravity centers. The analysis was performed both for individual sectors of the economy as well as for the European economy as a whole. The shift in the center of gravity of the studied commandand control functions of cities in the direction of Central Eastern Europe is examined in the paper. The fairly recent development of CEE and European integration increasing to the east and south has triggered the relocation of many companies from west to east and has also increased the importance of local companies.It may therefore be argued that the importance of the command and control functions of cities in developing countries has also increased (Poland, Russia). There is also a related decline in the importance of the so-called blue banana region and cities in Great Britain and Germany. This is especially visible in terms of the number of corporate headquarters in the western part of the continent. However, the shift in capital is not that clear – and both German and British corporations still remain the leaders in Europe.

Keywords: command and control function, transnational corporation, gravity, corporate headquarters, cities, Europe

Sławomir Dorocki [slawomir.dorocki@up.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography Pedagogical University of Kraków Podchorążych 2, 30-084, Kraków: Poland
Piotr Raźniak [piotr.razniak@up.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography Pedagogical University of Kraków Podchorążych 2, 30-084, Kraków: Poland
Anna Winiarczyk-Raźniak [anna.winiarczyk-razniak@up.krakow.pl], Institute of Geography Pedagogical University of Kraków Podchorążych 2, 30-084, Kraków: Poland

Abstract

Although the Baltic states, comprising Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, situated on the historical boundary of Northern, Central and Eastern Europe, are very similar from the viewpoint of regional identity and development as well as history and geographical characteristics, they exhibit regional disparities. This analysis focuses on monitoring a statistical set of ten selected representative economic and social indicators at the level of the NUTS 3 regions using deviations from the median and cluster method. Based on the analysis, the regions were categorized into groups that have shown the major disparities and differences between the capitals’ regions and the rest of the countries

Keywords: Baltic states, NUTS 3 regions, economic and social indicators, regional disparities

Martin Kebza [kebza@kge.zcu.cz], Faculty of Education, Department of Geography University of South Bohemia, Jeronýmova 10, CZ-37115 České Budějovice: Czech Republic; Faculty of Economics, Department of Geography University of West Bohemia Univerzitní 22, 306 14 Plzeň: Czech Republic
Aleš Nováček [anovacek@pf.jcu.cz], Faculty of Education, Department of Geography University of South Bohemia Jeronýmova 10, CZ-37115 České Budějovice: Czech Republic
Dagmar Popjaková [dpopjakova@pf.jcu.cz], Faculty of Education, Department of Geography University of South Bohemia Jeronýmova 10, CZ-37115 České Budějovice: Czech Republic

Abstract

Due to deregulation of air traffic flying has become increasingly accessible to masses of travellers on the growing low-cost market. Yet, a significant group of passengers seems to remain on the other side – the kinetic elites whose hypermobile lifestyles are performed in privileged spaces. The aim of this paper is to critically address the binary of elite and non-elite passengering and to demonstrate the evidence of a much wider spectrum of individual aeromobile experiences. We use the case study of frequent flyers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to present the highly diverse practices of passengers usually labelled as elites.

Keywords: aeromobile practices, accessibility, frequent flyer, frequent flyer programmes, mobile elite, the Czech Republic • Slovakia

Veronika Zuskáčová [veronika.zuskacova@ugn.cas.cz], Institute of Geonics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Drobného 28, 602 00 Brno: Czech Republic
Daniel Seidenglanz [seidenglanz@geogr.muni.cz], Department of Geography, Faculty of Science Masaryk University Kotlářská 267/2, 611 37 Brno: Czech Republic

Abstract

The unprecedented growth of immigration into Poland after 2013, especially from Ukraine, raises optimism among employers, and concerns among some social and political actors. The goal of this article is to contribute to that discussion, with a view to identifying a detailed geographical localisation of labour migrants employed under the simplified procedure (on the basis of employers’ declarations of a consent to employ a foreigner) – as an important legal channel by which the influx of foreign workers into Poland is taking place. Analyses of the register of declarations for 2012-2017 reveal a certain weakening of the geographical concentration of the foreign labour force in Poland. The highest intensity of foreign employment has been observed in rural areas, while the greatestnumbers of declarations for work have been registered in large cities. The geographical distribution of the foreign labour force in Poland has been shaped by activities of employment agencies especially in recent years.

Keywords: immigration, Ukrainian migrants, foreign employment, seasonal employment, labour market, simplified procedure

Agata Górny [agata@gorny.edu.pl], Centre of Migration Research, Faculty of Economic Sciences University of Warsaw Krakowskie Przedmieście 26/28, 00-927 Warsaw: Poland
Przemysław Śleszyński [psleszyn@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Abstract

Despite the decreasing importance of farming for rural economies, diversification of farming activities is still perceived by the EU as one of the sources of new jobs in rural areas. However, as authors argue, there are more efficient ways for new job generation associated with entrepreneurial rural in-migration. Such migration movement brings new entrepreneurial skills, knowledge, and creativity to rural areas. By presenting the results of our interview survey with urban newcomers to peripheral rural areas of Czechia, we would like to draw attention to this alternative and under-researched way of rural development, especially in the Central and Eastern Europe. This article analyses the contribution of entrepreneurial in-migrants to local economies and examines new ways for better incorporation of rural entrepreneurial in-migration into rural development planning.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, in-migration, rural space, rural planning, Czechia

Jan Píša [jan.pisa@ujep.cz], Faculty of Social and Economic Studies Jan Evangelista Purkyně University Moskevská 54, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem: Czech Republic
Vladan Hruška [vladan.hruska@ujep.cz], Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University Ústí nad Labem, Pasteurova 3632/15, 400 96 Ústí nad Labem: Czechia