Local Economy in Theory and Practice Planning and Evaluation Aspects. PN 282

Local development is currently referred to not only in terms of the process presenting local significance; it is more and more often perceived both in Poland and in many other countries, especially these dynamically developing, as an extremely important, integral component and factor underlying regional, national and even global processes. In such a situation, a crucial role is played by the analyses and assessment of its mechanisms, factors and effects. Both the practical and theoretical research focused on its intentional creation is of equal significance. This mainly refers to the problems of its planning and evaluation. In spite of numerous publications devoted to the issues of broadly understood local economy development planning, there still remains an extensive demand for theory modelling and its practical application. An even more apparent need can be observed in relation to the assessment of activities undertaken for the purposes of creating this development. Therefore, the need arises to extend both objective knowledge resources, referring to planning and evaluation problems, and subjective knowledge layers regarding these issues which are characteristic for the decision makers, entrepreneurs, activists and scientists. It is only in this way, that the theoretical findings can be translated into practical application favourable for the society, while the real life practice experience can enrich the existing theory.

One of the responses to this demand is the scientific conference, organized annually by the Department of Regional Economy of the Wrocław University of Economics, entitled Local and Regional Economy in Theory and Practice. Now in its 20th jubilee edition – record breaking in terms of interest and participation – over 100 scientists took part from Poland, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Italy, as well as several dozen Polish local authorities’ representatives, doctoral courses participants and students from all over the country. The following publication represents one of a collection of seven which include research results conducted and presented by the conference participants. It offers papers discussing different problems of local development planning in Poland and abroad, as well as presenting the results of areaspecific and complex assessments of the creation processes. We have the pleasure and honour to offer it to its future readers, hoping that its content will become useful in the course of exploring local development problems and their management, both in the local and supra-local perspective.

• konkurencyjność
• obszary wiejskie
• rozwój lokalny
• ekonomia