Olsztyn Economic Journal

Analysis of Opportunities for the Development of Electromobility of urban Transport on the Territory of Pila District

Piotr Gorzelańczyk — 2024-06-30

In the transportation industry, electromobility has become an indisputable trend that is not going to go away any time soon. According to analyses of the industry’s growth, all signs point to an increase in the number of electric automobiles, which will eventually supplant conventional combustion vehicles. One electric vehicle is now sold every 1,000 people in Poland, where they make up roughly 4.5% of total automobile sales. 20,253 units were sold in 2021, a 93% increase from the previous year (Elektromobilność…, 2022). The continued efforts of the world’s leading economies to cut greenhouse gas emissions, which are hastening climate change, are unquestionably a significant element supporting this course.

The aim of this article is to analyse the potential for the development of electromobility in the urban transport sector in Piła County. However, the success of this analysis will be possible during a period of transition in a number of important spheres. On the basis of the analysis, it can be concluded that such a possibility exists, as cars and other vehicles powered by electricity are becoming an alternative to traditional combustion vehicles, also reducing emissions of pollutants harmful to the environment. On the other hand, however, there are public concerns about this possibility, due to fires in electric cars, among other things.

Role of Large-Format Shops in the Food Retail Market in Poland during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Paweł Merło — 2024-06-30

Crisis events in the past few years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have in many cases laid bare insufficient resilience to changes in demand among businesses operating in Poland, particularly those in the service sector. Many have had to modify their way of distributing goods and to adjust to the new circumstances. As for the food retail sector in Poland, despite numerous restrictions and difficulties that consumers faced when visiting grocery shops, fluctuations in levels of food sales were relatively small. Large-format shops proved relatively adaptable, as they had already been using various distribution channels before the pandemic, and to a large extent this experience granted them quite a smooth passage through the pandemic. An important characteristic of supermarkets and hypermarkets is that their owners tend to have a large capital at their disposal, which additionally strengthens the resilience of such retail outlets to periodic crises, in contrast to smaller shops, whose financial cushion is much smaller, rendering them far more exposed to negative consequences of crises.

Renewable Energy Sources in Poland in 2014-2023 and the Perspective of their Development until 2030. A Contribution to the Discussion

Natalia Świdyńska — 2024-06-30

This article discusses the state of renewable energy sources (RES) in Poland, comparing it with the one in the EU-27. It has been emphasised that the Polish government is obliged carry out the EU policy, also in terms of energy targets. Thus, Poland is committed to achieving a 31.5% share of RES in all energy generation sources by year 2030. The aim of this study has been to determining the state of RES in Poland and determining the prospects for their further development based on it. The state of RES development in Poland has been determined on the basis of generally available statistical data (Poland Statistics GUS). Eurostat was the source of data pertaining to the European Union. According to preliminary data, in 2023, the share of RES in Poland was 27%, compared to 44% in the EU-27. Having determined the state of RES development in Poland, we were able to identify prospects for their future development. The prognosis made in this study substantiated the conclusion that the set target of 31.5% share of RES in all energy sources will not be achieved in Poland. The Polish economy is progressing in the right direction, and the RES share is increasing year to year, but the pace of this progress is too slow. Some ways of increasing the RES contribution to overall energy generation as well as certain obstacles to the growth of RES are implicated in this article. Attention has been drawn to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine on the energy sector.

A Systematization of Micro-Mobility Safety in Sustainable Cities

Małgorzata Kędzior-Laskowska — 2024-06-30

The purpose of this analysis was to introduce the safety category to the general context of micromobility development in modern cities. The article is theoretical and is intended to introduce the safety category in micromobility. It focuses on the relatively young and attractive micromobility market in terms of greening socio-economic activities and development.

The micromobility market is receiving increasing attention from both citizens and city planners. The safety category was determined by: a) various internationally differentiated technical vehicle standards, b) micromobility users road accidents, c) cities transport infrastructure, and d) personal data of micromobility users. It was demonstrated that safety is an important issue in transport and city planning. The micromobility vehicles hold high significance in promoting sustainable development. Therefore, it is imperative to incorporate micromobility into sustainable urban mobility plans and incentivize individuals to change their mobility patterns. However, there is a need to observe the market because it is rather dynamic and more and more vehicles appear, also for elderly and people with physical disabilities. The emergence of novel technologies and vehicles has the potential to transform cities, thereby ensuring their safety and fostering a friendly environment for their citizens.

The Effects of Cities' Membership in the Cittaslow Network in the Opinion of their Residents: the Example of Barczewo and Biskupiec

Wioletta Wierzbicka — 2024-06-30

The aim of the research was to assess the effects of cities' membership in the Polish National Cittaslow Network based on the opinions of their residents. An attempt was made to identify both positive and negative effects felt in cities and to determine in which areas they occur most. The study used the survey research method. The survey questionnaire was addressed to residents of two slow cities: Biskupiec and Barczewo. Most respondents indicated positive effects of membership in the Cittaslow network. The most benefits were indicated in three areas of the city's functioning: increased tourist attractiveness, expanded cultural offer of the city and better promotion of the city. Importantly, the majority of respondents support the city's continued membership in the network and believe that it will accelerate the economic growth rate and the city's long-term development.

Students' Preferences Regarding Scientific Clubs at the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn

Weronika Barańska — 2024-06-30

The purpose of the research was to comprehensively discuss the areas of scientific interest of students in the various majors at the Faculty of Economic Sciences at UWM in Olsztyn and to identify what activities they find most useful. The research was conducted by a diagnostic survey method using a questionnaire sheet. The survey shows that the scientific clubs at the Faculty of Economic Sciences correspond to the interests of students. Moreover, students indicated that the benefits and activities offered by the clubs are attractive and in line with their expectations. The activities provided by these organizations enable them to develop and achieve the goals they set while participating in the study clubs. The results of the study may contribute to the preparation of a better offer of scientific clubs at the Faculty of Economic Sciences at UWM in Olsztyn so that it is attractive and meets the needs of students of different majors as well as possible.

Assessment of Income Differentiation of Different-Sized Households in Poland

Karolina Laska — 2024-06-30

The household is the basic economic unit that participates in both economic and social life. It must generate income, the level of which may change over time and vary depending on the size of the household. The aim of the research was to assess the scale of differentiation of household income in Poland in the years 2014-2021 due to their size. The study used the comparative analysis method. Secondary data on disposable income per person in the household was compared. The variation in income in particular years was examined using the classic coefficient of variation. In the years under study, in each type of household (taking into account its size), disposable income increased, with a higher growth rate recorded by larger households. In all years, the size of the farm significantly differentiated the level of disposable income of households, and this differentiation showed a decreasing trend.

Unemployment in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Wielkopolskie Voivodeships – a Comparative Analysis

Julia Koziej — 2024-06-30

Unemployment is a phenomenon that has significant consequences for society as well as for the economic development of a country, as it is a problem that manifests in both economic and social dimensions. Notably, there are significant differences in the extent of this phenomenon based on age, gender, place of residence, education, and spatial distribution. The lowest unemployment rate in Poland is observed in the Wielkopolskie voivodeship, while one of the highest is found in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship. These differences arise from the distinct demographic, production, and infrastructural structures of these regions. However, the scale of these differences changes over time and may vary across different age groups or gender divisions. In light of the above, the aim of this study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the total unemployment and unemployment by age and gender in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Wielkopolskie voivodeships. The analysis covers the period from 2012 to 2022, based on data from the Central Statistical Office.

The conducted research shows that the unemployment rate in the years 2012-2022 (except for 2020) decreased in both voivodeships. In 2022, the unemployment rate in the Wielkopolskie voivodeship was the lowest in the country, while the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship was in the penultimate position in this respect, right after the Podkarpackie voivodeship. In all the years analyzed, in both regions, a higher share of unemployed people in the number of working-age population was recorded in the case of women, although a downward trend was also noted in this respect. The conducted analyses also showed that throughout the entire period under review, the lowest unemployment in both analyzed voivodeships occurred among the age group of 35-44 years. Interestingly, in 2022, in the Wielkopolskie voivodeship, the highest unemployment occurred among people aged 18-24, while in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie voivodeship in the age group of 25-34 years.