COMPARISON OF THE LIFE STANDARDS OF INHABITANTS IN EASTERN AND WESTERN POLAND

Abstract

The main aim of the study is to analyse and compare the quality of life of the inhabitants of eastern and western Poland. This is accomplished by investigating whether the division of Poland into ʽPoland A’ and ʽPoland B’, which has been the norm for years, is valid. The spatial scope applies to all voivodeships. The criterion for the division of eastern and western Poland was adopted based on the historical division along the Vistula river. The characteristics used in the analysis described: education, access to medical care, health, safety, housing, the labour market, culture, and material resources. The period examined in the study covers the years 2005–2015. The study used Ward’s and taxonomic methods, in particular the Hellwig’s method.