Research background: The processes of economic convergence observed in many devel-oping countries are characterized by reduction of economic differences on the cross-country level, which are accompanied by growing internal economic inequalities. This may stem from the fact that in the catching-up countries a more dynamic growth pattern is observed in the economically strongest regions, which is initially reflected in spatial polarization and increasing regional inequalities. However, just as the countries reach higher levels of devel-opment, the diffusion of growth-inducing impulses to less-developed areas should lead to the spatial equalizing of the development levels and reducing regional inequalities. Purpose of the article: The aim of the paper is to determine the relationship be-tween the level of economic growth and observed economic inequalities in Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries. The theoretical framework adopted to describe and explain those relations is the so-called Williamson’s hypothesis in which the relationship between the scale of regional inequalities and economic growth is illustrated by a curve shaped like an inverted U. Methods: The research procedure was intended to verify William-son’s hypothesis by estimating parabolic econometric models. Indicators of economic growth along with measure of regional inequalities (Williamson’s coefficient of variation) were used in the regression modeling. The research period spanned the years 1995-2014. Findings & Value added: In the light of the study of CEE countries, it was possible to observe both convergence symptoms as well as divergence tendencies. It can be thus stated that the analyzed CEE countries followed a similar path to the one observed earlier by Wil-liamson in other developing countries. However, the analyses conducted by the authors at the national and regional levels of CEE countries were equivocal and did not fully support the theoretical assumptions of Williamson’s hypothesis.
The aim of this paper is to present the concept, classification and significance of the involvement of tenants in the processes of managing council flats. Tenant participation is becoming an increasingly popular subject of research owing to numerous benefits in the field of social housing stock management, such as better adjustment of property managers’ services to tenants’ needs and preferences, or an increase in the efficiency and economics of management. However, the mobilization of tenants will be successful only if they can participate in the decision-making process in a relatively high degree. Our discussion focuses on social housing stock in Poland.
Streszczenie: Do niedawna interwencjonizm rządu i "niewidzialna ręka rynku" rozumiane były w kategorii antagonizmów, dzisiaj można je uznać za mechanizmy komplementarne. Państwo wspiera rozwój rynku mieszkań społecznych nie tylko poprzez własne programy mieszkaniowe, ale również poprzez promowanie i dotowanie mechanizmów rynkowych. Coraz popularniejszym rozwiązaniem wśród państw europejskich jest stosowanie komercyjnych zasobów mieszkaniowych i rynkowych mechanizmów do rozwiązywania problemów mieszkaniowych niezamożnych gospodarstw domowych. Komercjalizacja zadań publicznych nie oznacza jednak, że państwo może całkowicie wycofać się z regulowania mieszkalnictwa. W pracy omówiono czynniki legitymizujące interwencjonizm w sferę mieszkalnictwa, a także cele i skutki takich działań. Przedstawiono też nowe tendencje w zakresie regulowania rynku czynszowych mieszkań społecznych, a także scharakteryzowano kierunki rozwoju interwencji rządów na omawianym polu w przyszłości.Słowa kluczowe: interwencjonizm, mieszkania społeczne, mieszkalnictwo.Klasyfi kacja JEL: R30, R38.
Although there is a heated debate on the shortage of social housing in Poland, little has been done to mitigate the problem and counterbalance market inequalities. The aim of the paper is to explore the novel tool within social housing policy and management aimed at making access to cheap rental housing easier, i.e. social rental agencies (SRAs) acting as intermediaries between private landlords and vulnerable households. The paper is theory and literature-based. It outlines and researches the concept and features of SRAs as introduced by other European countries. The main research question is to find out whether these institutions should be employed in the process of improving the existing social housing system in Poland. In order to meet the principal objective of the paper, the author: 1) reviews recent housing situation in Poland affecting the need for affordable housing provision, 2) presents definitions of SRAs and provide an overview of their functioning, and 3) makes an attempt to evaluate the possibility to use the tool to expand the existing social housing stock. Although the institutions have long been recognized in many European countries, in Poland SRAs are practically unknown. Only a few non-profit and small-scale initiatives based on SRA model have been observed so far. However, due to the recent promotion of the tool by a non-profit organization Habitat for Humanity, the scale of existing programmes has gained potential to be expanded. As a result SRAs can offer a relatively low-cost solution to address housing needs and enlarge the stock of social housing.
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