Gęstość instytucjonalna jako czynnik konkurencyjności regionu
Institutional thickness as a factor of the region competitiveness

Summary/Abstract: The aim of paper is to discuss the relation between institutional thickness and the development and the competitiveness of a region. Institutions are understood as organized entities operating in a specific place and meeting certain business and socio-economic needs, but also the rules, norms and principles found in the local environment, creating a unique socio-economic environment. The institutional thickness influences the participation and the place of the region in functional connections with environment. It determines ability to gain external profits (among others connected with innovation activities), degree of the independence of the region from outside entities and the possibility of cooperation within the territorial unit and its environment. The necessary conditions for the development of institutional density are: high numbers of strong institutions in the local community, a strong, broad and frequent interactions (including exchange of information and cooperation) between the institutions, the development of local and regional identity and a sense of common interests, as well as the existence of common strategy among the members of the institution involved in the project. The development of a region based on endogenous resources, enriched with benefiting from the environment, depends on institutional density. Synergy effect, which is amplified among others through network connections and the so-called tacit knowledge, is a favorable factor. On the other hand, there are empirical examples confirming that a too high level of institutional density sometimes makes it difficult to develop and improve the competitiveness of the region.

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