sustainable development – Page 2 – Regional Science Inquiry

Anna ARENT

Faculty of Management – Lublin University of Technology, Poland, http://en.pollub.pl/

a.arent@pollub.pl

Matylda BOJAR

Faculty of Management – Lublin University of Technology, Poland, http://en.pollub.pl/

m.bojar@pollub.pl

Francisco DINIZ

Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies (CETRAD); Quinta dos Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal, http://www.cetrad.info/

fdiniz@utad.pt

Nelson DUARTE

School of Management and Technology of Felgueiras – Polytechnic of Porto – CIICESI, www.estgf.ipp.pt, and CETRAD http://www.cetrad.info/, Portugal

nduarte@estgf.ipp.pt

Abstract

This paper analyses the role of SMEs in regional development, focusing the particular case of Lublin Region in Poland. This study aims, in a first stage, to analyse entrepreneurs’ view of their role in local and regional development, by the adoption of sustainability strategies. After that, it will also be explored the relation between sustainable development and other variables such as: business local integration, firm age, number of years in the actual location, or firm legal form. The methodology adopted was the questionnaire, in order to get entrepreneurs opinion. 314 questionnaires were answered by managers from SMEs operating the in region of Lublin, acting the in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Results show the economic perspective as the major concern of entrepreneurs. Most of firms present a proactive attitude towards to sustainable development – older firms present a greater concern with social and environmental issues. It was also identified the existence of high levels of local integration. However, firms that are operating behind regional frontiers are promoting a more efficient local development than local acting firms.

Keywords: SMEs, Sustainable Development, Local/Regional Development

JEL classification: M10, O14, O18, O44

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Lubor Hruska-Tvrdy and Ivana Foldynova

VSB-Technical University of Ostrava, 17.listopadu 15

Ostrava-Poruba, 70833, Czech Republic

Abstract:

New social risks are key factors for social cohesion of local community and society. Currently new social risks which are caused by changes in a society appear more frequently than before. While previously the groups of underprivileged were counted in endangered groups, now the middle class can be affected as well. This report shows a spatial distribution of these risks. How to obtain this result is shown on a particular example of the city of Ostrava. This report seeks to establish future influence of industrial city cohesion. Mainly processes of industrialization and deindustrialization are examined in a detail, especially their effect on demo-social structure of the city.The results are based on the research of the project called „Industrial society in a postindustrial city“ under which there were large sociological research of Ostrava and a long term monitoring of statistical indicators carried out.All social problems lead to inability to retain basic residential standards. Social risk distribution is surveyed in Ostrava however the context of larger area (the Moravian-Silesian Region) is also taken into consideration.