MULTIFUNCTIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT – A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF MUNICIPALITIES ADJACENT TO THE CITY OF OLSZTYN

Abstract

Rural areas have multiple functions. Four key functions can be identified in a synthetic approach: economic, environmental, social and cultural. Multidirectional rural development is strongly influenced by spatial attributes, demographics, environmental factors, infrastructure and capital. Multidirectional development is closely associated with the multiple functions of rural areas. In general, multifunctional rural development involves rural activation and rural business diversification which enables members of the rural community to derive incomes from non-farming activities. The growth potential of rural municipalities is an important determinant of multifunctional development. The aim of this study was to analyze the level of socioeconomic development in rural municipalities, which is an indicator of their multifunctional development. The analysis involved rural municipalities adjacent to the city of Olsztyn. These municipalities are bedroom communities whose residents commute to work in the urban center. The study analyzed 15 indicators describing the four key areas of multifunctional development: environmental, social, economic and infrastructural. Data for 2013-2015 were acquired from the Central Statistical Office and statistical tables of the agricultural productivity index. The results indicate that the municipality of Purda (with relatively poor soils) meets the highest number of criteria and the municipality of Dywity (with relatively high-quality soils) meets the lowest number of criteria for multifunctional development.

Keywords: multifunctional development, rural areas, indicators of environmental, social, economic and infrastructure potential

Article DOI: http://doi.org/10.15544/RD.2017.208