Wpływ otoczenia regionalnego na rozwój małych i średnich przedsiębiorstw w obszarach rozwiniętych i zmarginalizowanych
Impact of the regional environment on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises in developed and marginalised areas

Summary/Abstract: Small and medium enterprises are regarded as an important actor in the regional development. SMEs operating in the given region, on the one hand, contribute to shaping the market equilibrium, increasing competitiveness, decreasing the unemployment rate, promoting entrepreneurial attitudes and diffusion of innovations, etc. On the other hand, however, SMEs are affected by numerous regional factors which may both stimulate and limit the development of these enterprises. The paper aims at analysing and assessing the impact of the regional environment on the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in developed and marginalised areas. The research was conducted in the years of 2011-2012 and comprised small and medium enterprises located in developed and marginalised areas in Poland. The questionnaire was sent by mail and e-mail accompanied by the request to return the completed form in the same way. However, due to the low return of the dispatched questionnaires, the study was supplemented by the direct interview. 590 correctly completed questionnaires were returned – 319 in the case of developed areas and 271 in the case of marginalised areas. The conducted analysis of regional determinants of the development of small and medium enterprises indicates a significant impact of these determinants on the development of the SME sector. The presented groups of factors interact with each other and depending on their character and strength, they may become development stimulators or obstacles. The development of small and medium-sized enterprises may be limited or stimulated by entirely different factors, depending on the level of socioeconomic development of the area in which this particular entity is located.

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