Urbanization in Poland: tendencies and transformation

Abstract

This paper examines urbanization in Poland after the Second World War. Particular attention is paid to urban dynamics in respect of the distribution of urban settlements, and changes in the urban population size distribution.The authors highlight the particular role of industrialization in shaping urbanization in the postwar period, and the consequences for urban economies after 1989. Urbanization has consistently lagged behind industrialization, with significant consequences for standards of living, infrastructure provision and levels of commuting.