EVALUATION OF SPATIAL DIFFERENTIATION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS IN MAZOWIECKIE PROVINCE IN YEARS 2004-2016

Mazowieckie Province is a unique area of Poland. It is characterised by social and economic diversification. Located in this province, Warsaw strongly influences the development of neighbouring rural areas. On the other hand, rural municipalities whose socio-economic parameters are among the lowest in the country are located within several dozen kilometres from the centre of the capital. Such disparities show that Mazowieckie is characterised by large interregional differences in its internal structure. This is an interesting research area that requires the analysis of socio-economic development in this region to be conducted in a multidimensional way. The aim of this study is to evaluate the spatial differentiation of the level of socio-economic development of rural areas in Mazowieckie Province. Linear ordering was used to determine the level of socio-economic development. The results of the study are consistent with core-periphery theory. The large urban centres that function as the centres for the surrounding rural areas have the greatest impact on the level of rural development. The impact of smaller towns can also be noticed. They often are the local development centres for surrounding villages.