Delimitation Problems of Urban Agglomerations in Poland and in Other Countries

Urszula Wich

Delimitation Problems of Urban

Agglomerations in Poland and in

Other Countries

Annales Universitatis Mariae Curie-Skłodowska. Sectio H, Oeconomia 18, 71-83

A N N A L E S

U N I V E R S I T A T I S M A R I A E C U R I E - S K L O D O W S K A L U B L I N — P O L O N I A

VOL. X V III, 4 SECTIO H 1984

Z a k ła d P la n o w a n ia S p o łe c z n e g o , G o s p o d a r c z e g o i P r z e s tr z e n n e g o W y d z ia ł E k o n o m ic z n y U M C S

U r s z u l a W I C H

D e lim ita tio n P ro b le m s of U rb a n A g g lo m e ra tio n s in P o la n d and in O th e r C o u n trie s

D e lim ita c y jn e p roblem y św ia to w y ch i polsk ich aglom eracji m iejsk ich Проблемы вы деления мировых и польских городских агломераций

THE CONCEPT OF U RBA N AGGLO M ERATIO N

T he co n cep t of ’’u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n ” h as a w id e an d o fte n c o n tro ­ v e rs ia l m e a n in g .1 In th e w o rld lite r a tu r e on th is su b je c t one m a y e n c o u n te r q u ite v a rie d opinions a b o u t th is no tion. T h e d iffe re n c e s con ­ c e rn th e v e r y d efin itio n of a n ag g lo m eratio n , th e n am e, a n d m eth o d s of s e p a ra tin g it fro m th e o v e ra ll u rb a n s e ttle m e n t sy stem . R e se a rc h an d in te rn a tio n a l c o n fere n ces o rg a n iz ed b y th e a p p ro p ria te ag en cies of th e U n ite d N a tio n s h a v e g re a tly c o n trib u te d to a u n ific a tio n of th e b asic co n cep ts a n d d e lim itin g o p e ra tio n s in th is re s p e c t.2 U rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n , c a lle d h e re a m e tro p o lita n a rea, has b een d efin e d as a re g io n fu lfillin g

1 The litera tu re both in P oland and abroad is not unanim ous in ideas about w h a t is and w h a t sh ou ld be an urban agglom eration. A p articu larly storm y debate on the su b ject took place in P oland in the early 1970’s. The h ig h est au th orities in th e problem s of agglom erations p articipated in it, am ong others, K. D ziew o ń ­ ski, S. L eszczycki, B. M alisz. See A glom eracje m iejsk ie w P olsce. P ojęcia i term in o ­ logia (U rban ag g lo m e ra tio n s in Poland. Concept and te rm inolo gy.) „B iu letyn K PZK P A N ”, vol. 79, 1973.

2 R esults of th ese stu d ies and conferences are reflected , am ong others, in: R eport of the Group of E xperts on M etropolitan P lan n in g and D evelop m en t, S to ck ­ holm , 14—30 Sep tem b er 1961; A C oncise Sum m ary of the W orld P op u lation S itu a ­ tio n in 1970, U n ited N ation s D ep artm en t of Econom ic and S ocial A ffa irs, „P op u la­ tion S tu d ies”, no. 48, N ew Y ork 1971.

c e rta in re q u ir e m e n ts a n d in h a b ite d b y th e p o p u la tio n of a t le a st 500 th o u s a n d , as w e ll as in c lu d in g a city , c le a rly p re d o m in a tin g in re s p e c t to size, o r a m u n ic ip a l co m p lex . T his d e fin itio n h a s b ecom e p o p u la r in m a n y c o u n trie s of th e w o rld , in c lu d in g P o la n d , an d is o fte n em p lo y ed as a s ta n d a r d to c o n s tru c t m o re p a r tic u la r co n cep ts an d d e lim ita tio n c r i­ te ria , a d o p te d to sp ec ific d e v e lo p m e n ta l c o n d itio n s in in d iv id u a l co u n ­ trie s.

A s u rv e y of in te r n a tio n a l s tu d ie s co n c e rn in g u rb a n ag g lo m e ra tio n s e a s ily re v e a ls th e u se of d iffe re n t n a m e s w h ic h a re n o t alw a y s s y n o ­ n y m o u s , fo r su c h u n its. O n e sh o u ld m e n tio n su c h te rm s as a m e tro ­ p o lita n a re a (USA), c o n u rb a tio n (U n ite d K in g d o m ), m o n o -o r p o ly -co m ­ m u n a l u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s o r e q u ilib riu m m etro p o lis (F ra n ce), an d u r ­ b a n co m p lex e s (W est G e rm a n y ).

T h e v a r ie ty of o p in io n s a b o u t th e essen ce of u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n , its c o n s titu tiv e e le m e n ts a n d ty p ic a l fe a tu re s , ca n n o t h id e th e fa ct th a t th e c o n c ep t u s u a lly re fe rs b o th to th e s ta te a n d fo rm of a la rg e u rb a n s e ttle m e n t, as w e ll as to th e p ro c ess c h a ra c te riz in g th e rise a n d d e v e lo p ­ m e n t of th e a g g lo m e ra tio n a n d th e p h a se of th e u rb a n iz a tio n p rocesses. T h e c h a ra c te riz a tio n of a g g lo m e ra tio n as a s ta te an d as a pro cess m a y be re d u c e d to a s ta te m e n t th a t it c o n s titu te s a co llection of sev eral, fu n c tio n a lly c o n n e c te d m u n ic ip a litie s w ith in one com m on a re a , a t th e sam e tim e d is p la y in g a te n d e n c y to w a rd s f u r t h e r m u tu a l co o p eratio n , social, econom ic, a n d c u ltu ra l, w h ich , in tu r n , c o n s titu te s a p re re q u is ite of th e in te g ra tio n of th e s e u n its in to an in c re a s in g ly co m p ac t m u n ic ip a l co m p lex . T h e id e n tific a tio n of an a g g lo m e ra tio n w ith a d e fin ite u rb a n iz a tio n p h a se re q u ir e s an a w a re n e ss of th e fa c t t h a t th e p ro g re s ­ s in g u rb a n iz a tio n of a re a s m a y be a p p ro a c h e d as c o n sistin g of s e v e ra l d is tin c t stag es, ea c h s u b s e q u e n t sta g e b e in g a h ig h e r fo rm th a n th e p re c e d in g one. T h e a g g lo m e ra tio n p h a se of o u r c e n tu r y h a s b ee n p r e ­ ced ed b y tw o e a r lie r sta g e s, n a m e ly , a p r e - in d u s tr ia l to w n ty p ic a l of th e 18th c e n tu r y a n d an in d u s tr ia l c ity d ev e lo p e d in th e 1 9th c e n tu ry . O n th e o th e r h a n d , th e a g g lo m e ra tio n of a s e ttle m e n t sy ste m r e fe rs to th e p ro c ess of f u n c tio n a l- te r r ito r ia l m e rg in g of sin g le u n its of s e ttle m e n t o r th e ir g ro u p s in to o n e c o m p le x s e ttle m e n t. T h e h ig h e r p h ase s in th e ev o­ lu tio n of u rb a n iz a tio n d e sc rib e th e rise of m e tro p o lis a n d m eg alo p o lis, re s p e c tiv e ly . T h e l a t t e r p h a s e is ty p ic a l of th e m o st h ig h ly u rb a n iz e d c o u n trie s in th e w o rld . Its classica l e x a m p le m a y be fo u n d in th e h u g e m eg alo p o lis on th e E a s te r n co ast of th e U n ite d S ta te s w h ic h co v ers a c o m p a c t a r e a of a b o u t 140 th o u s a n d k m 2 an d a p o p u la tio n of n e a r ly 40 m illio n .

A lth o u g h c o n n e c te d w ith d e fin ite tim e p erio d s, p a r tic u la r u rb a n iz ? tio n p h a se s q u ite o fte n o c c u r s im u lta n e o u s ly , e v e n w ith in th e sa m ^

D elim ita tio n Problem s 73

s ta te . U sin g th e e x a m p le of P o la n d one m a y s ta te th a t th e a g g lo m e ra ­ tio n s in th e s o u th e rn p a r t of th e c o u n try a re in th e p h ase of m e tro ­ p olis w h ic h is re fle c te d in single ag g lo m eratio n being m erg e d . T his is c le a rly sh o w n b y th e in te g ra tiv e processes o b serv ed in th e a g g lo m e ra ­ tio n s of K a to w ice, C racow , O pole, B ielsko B iała, an d C zęstochow a. T he a g g lo m e ra tio n phase, on th e o th e r h an d , m a y be o b serv ed in th e ag g lo ­ m e ra tio n of W a rsaw . T h e a g g lo m e ra tio n of Łódź, in tu r n , is an e x a m p le of a co m p acted in d u s tria l city, since it is c h a ra c te riz e d b y an u n u s u a lly h ig h c o n c e n tra tio n of p o p u la tio n an d socio-econom ic p o te n tia l in th e ce n ­ t r a l city, i.e. Łódź, and , a t th e sam e tim e, b y p o o rly u rb a n iz e d s u r ­ ro u n d in g s. T h e in itia l p h ase of th e u rb a n iz a tio n processes is re p re s e n te d , am o n g o th e rs , by th e a g g lo m e ra tio n of L u b lin : It h as no u rb a n iz e d s u r ­ ro u n d in g s a n d is re s tr ic te d to a co m plex of o n ly tw o tow ns. It sh o u ld be e m p h a siz e d th a t th e m a in fa c to r w h ich co n d itio n s th e e v o lu tio n of th e u rb a n iz a tio n processes is th e d e v e lo p m e n t, im p ro v e m e n t, an d scope of th e m ean s of p u b lic tr a n s p o r t a n d p riv a te m ean s of con vey an ce.

As re s u lts of th e u rb a n iz a tio n processes a n d like th e m , u rb a n ag g lo ­ m e ra tio n s h a v e an o b je c tiv e c h a ra c te r of d ev e lo p m e n t. T h ey a re also m a n ife sta tio n s of g e n e ra l re g u la ritie s , re g a rd le ss of th e p o litica l system s, f e a tu re s c h a ra c te riz in g p a r tic u la r s ta te o rg an ism s a n d g eo g rap h ical zones. T h e te n d e n c ie s to th e c o n c e n tra tio n of socio-econom ic a c tiv itie s a r e co n n e cted w ith th e lo caliza tio n a d v a n ta g e s c re a te d b y la rg e c ity a g g lo m e ra tio n s. T he c o n c e n tra tio n fo rces also effec t th e p o p u latio n . The rise a n d g ro w th of an u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n u n a v o id a b ly in c re a se th e te n d e n c y to w a rd s f u r th e r c o n c e n tra tio n of p o p u latio n a n d d iffe re n tia te d fo rm s of socio-econom ic ac tiv itie s in it.

F o r a lo n g tim e th e o b je c tiv e n a tu r e of th e o rig in an d d e v e lo p m e n t of u rb a n ag g lo m e ra tio n s could n o t fin d a co n firm a tio n in th e o p e ra tio n s c o n c e rn in g th e m a n d c a rrie d o u t e ith e r in P o la n d o r in o th e r c o u n trie s. B eg in n in g w ith th e 1930’s, w ith a sh o rt b re a k in th e p o st-W a r y e a rs, an d u n til th e 1970’s, a d e c o n c e n tra tio n policy w as em p lo y ed to w a rd s th e l a r ­ g e st to w n s of th e c o u n try in P o la n d . A t th e b e g in n in g of th e 1970’s th e d e p a r tu r e fro m th e o p e ra tio n s re s tr ic tin g th e d e v e lo p m e n t of th e la rg e to w n s in P o la n d w as a co n se q u en ce of th e ch an g e in th e op in ion s a b o u t th e i r effe c tiv e n e ss an d , g e n e ra lly , a b o u t th e effe c tiv e n e ss of th e w h o le d e g lo m e ra tio n policy. T he l a tte r w as s u b s titu te d b y a policy of m o d e ra te a n d c o n tro lle d g ro w th of la rg e to w n s, p a r tic u la r stre ss b ein g la id on th e p ro b le m s of th e ir c o rre c t to w n d e v e lo p m e n t o rg a n iz atio n . T his o rg a n iz a ­ tio n is in s e p a ra b ly c o n n e cted w ith th e q u e stio n of p ro p e rly d e te rm in e d b o rd e rs of u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s. It is n o t an easy q u e stio n in v iew of th e fa c t th a t th e ag g lo m e ra tio n s do n o t c o n s titu te in s titu tio n a liz e d lin k s w ith in th e u rb a n s e ttle m e n t sy stem . T h is im p lies a n e e d to w o rk o u t

p a r tic u la r ly c o rre c t m e th o d s of th e ir d e lim ita tio n . In th is fie ld all i r r e ­ g u la ritie s a re n e g a tiv e ly re fle c te d in th e d e v e lo p m e n ta l p ro cesses in u r ­ ban a g g lo m e ra tio n s a n d th e y d im in is h th e e ffe c tiv e n e ss of c o n tro l o v er th e s e co m p lex sy ste m s of u rb a n s e ttle m e n ts .

A SU R V E Y OF IN T ER N A T IO N A L D ELIM ITA TIO N M ETH ODS

T h e n e e d to d e m a rc a te a g g lo m e ra tio n s in a giv en s ta te re s u lts fro m a n u m b e r of co n d itio n s of w h ic h p ro b a b ly th e m o st im p o rta n t one is th e a c h iv e d le v e l of th e u rb a n iz a tio n p ro cesses in th is c o u n try . In sta te s c h a ra c te riz e d b y h ig h ly a d v a n c e d u rb a n iz a tio n processes, th e m e th o d s of d istin g u ish in g a g g lo m e ra tio n s a re re p re s e n te d m o st n u m e ro u s ly a n d o fte n h av e a long tra d itio n going b ack to th e fir s t d ecad es of o u r c e n tu ry . A m o n g o th e rs, th is g ro u p in c lu d e s th e U n ite d S ta te s, G re a t B rita in , F ra n c e , G e rm a n F e d e ra l R ep u b lic, a n d th e S o v iet U nion. T he s u rv e y of th e m e th o d s fo r d e lim itin g a g g lo m e ra tio n s w o rk e d o u t in th e s e c o u n trie s, as w e ll as op in io n s a b o u t th is p h a se of u rb a n iz a tio n as a w h o le, m a y re v e a l fa r-re a c h in g d iffe re n c e s. T his, in tu r n , d e te rm in e s th e sca le of d iffic u ltie s in in te r n a tio n a l co m p ariso n s a n d th u s e x c lu d e s alm o st a p o ssib ility of c a rry in g o u t te a m re s e a rc h in th is field.

T h e e le m e n t w h ic h p a r tic u la r ly h in d e rs co m p ariso n s of u rb a n ag g lo ­ m e ra tio n s in d if f e r e n t c o u n trie s of th e w o rld is th e ric h v a r ie ty of p u r ­ poses w h ic h su c h d is tin c tio n s a re to serv e. A re la tiv e ly w id e p o p u la rity h a s b e e n w on b y s ta tis tic a l p u rp o se s w h ic h , as a ru le , em p lo y an a p rio ri a ssu m e d lim itin g m e a su re s. A n e x a m p le m a y be fo u n d in th e A m e ric a n ’’S ta tis tic a l S ta n d a rd M e tro p o lita n A re a s ” (d e lim itin g c rite ria : size of th e c e n tr a l city , m e tro p o lita n c h a ra c te r, in te g ra tio n of th e a g g lo m e ra te d a re a s ),3 th e c o n u rb a tio n s of o v e r o ne m illio n p o p u la tio n in G re a t B rita in (d e lim itin g c rite ria : c o n tin u ity of b u ilt- u p a reas, p o p u la tio n d e n sity , co m ­ m u ta tio n to a n d fro m w o rk , school, a n d s h o p p in g c e n tre s ),4 p o ly -co m ­ m u n a l a g g lo m e ra tio n s in F ra n c e (d e lim itin g c rite ria : p o p u la tio n ca p acity , in d e x of b u ilt- u p a re a s d e n s ity , p e rc e n ta g e of p o p u la tio n of th e a g ric u l­ t u r a l ty p e of h o u seh o ld s in th e to ta l n u m b e r of h o u seh o ld s),5 or th e

3 S ta n d a r d M e t r o p o li ta n S ta t is ti c a l A reas, B ureau o f the B udget. W ashington 1961.

4 P. K o r c e l l i : P r o b l e m a t y k a re g i o n ó w m e t r o p o l i t a l n y c h w S ta n a c h Z j e d n o ­ c zo n y c h i w W i e l k i e j B r y ta n i i ( P r o b l e m s of M e t r o p o li ta n R egio ns in th e U n ite d S t a t e s an d U n ite d K in g d o m ). „P rzegląd G eo g ra ficzn y ”, vol. X X X IX , no. 2, 1967, pp. 334— 354.

5 P. L e F i l l â t r e : R é v is i o n de la d é li m i ta t io n d e s a g g lo m é ra tio n s urb a in es u ti li s e e s par l ’I N SEE. „Etudes et C on jon ctu re”, 4, 1968, pp 49— 112..

D elim ita tio n Problem s ₇₅

u rb a n co m p lex es in W est G e rm a n y (d e lim itin g c rite ria : p o p u latio n , p o ­ p u la tio n d e n sity , p e rc e n ta g e of in h a b ita n ts em p lo y ed in a g ric u ltu re , p e r ­ ce n ta g e of p o p u la tio n co m m u tin g to an d fro m w o rk in th e c e n tre of th e co m p lex ).6 I t sh o u ld be stre ss e d th a t, w ith th e e x c ep tio n of G re a t B ri­ ta in , ’’s ta tis tic a l” a g g lo m e ra tio n s a re n o t u su a lly end o w ed w ith th e scien tific sta tu s an d th e y a re m e re ly em p lo y ed fo r th e p ra c tic a l re a liz a ­ tio n of c e rta in a d m in is tra tiv e u n d e rta k in g s.

A s a ru le , sc ie n tific re s e a rc h c o n c e n tra te s on th e s u b je c t of u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s to ach iev e s c h o la rly o r co g n itiv e p u rp o se s of d e lim ita tio n . T h e b o rd e rs of th u s d iffe re n tia te d a g g lo m eratio n s are m o st o fte n id e n ti­ cal w ith th e ir a c tu a l areas. A m ong o th e rs, su ch an a re a is d e te rm in e d on th e b asis of v a rio u s fu n c tio n s p e rfo rm e d b y th e c e n tra l c ity fo r its s u rro u n d in g s (U SSR — M. L. S tr o n g in a 7), th e fre q u e n c y of tra n s p o r t c o m m u ta tio n s b e tw e e n th e c e n tr a l city an d its e n v iro n m e n t (U SA — A. H a w le y ,8 O. D. D u n c an 9), th e b a la n c in g of jobs a n d h o u sin g (U SA — B. J. L. B e rry ,10 G re a t B rita in — P. H a ll,11 U SSR — G. L a p p o ,12 W. G. D aw id o w icz,13 D. J. B ogorad 14).

T h e in e rtia of th e ag g lo m e ra tio n g ro w th , to g e th e r w ith th e te n d e n c y to w a rd s th e s p o n ta n e ity of th is process h av e in d ic a te d th e n e e d of its ra tio n a l o rg a n iz a tio n . F o r th is reaso n , som e d e fin ite to w n p la n n in g p u r ­ p oses h a v e also b e e n em p lo y ed fo r th e d e lim ita tio n of u rb a n ag g lo m e­ ra tio n s . T h e d e lim ita tio n m eth o d s of th is k in d a re fa ir ly p o p u la r in so cialist c o u n trie s a n d in th o se c a p ita lis t co u n trie s w h ic h in tro d u c e p la n ­ n in g sy stem s on a la rg e r scale. In th e la tte r g ro u p , F ra n c e is p a r tic u la rly co n sp icu o u s w h e re in th e fifth p la n fo r th e y e a rs 1966— 1970 e ig h t e q u ilib riu m m e tro p o lise s h a v e b ee n d istin g u ish e d , n a m e ly , L y o n -S a in t E tie n n e , M arse ille -A ix , L ille -R o u b a ix -T o u rc o in g , N an cy-M etz, B o rd ea u x ,

6 0 . B o u s t e d t : Die S ta d t r e g i o n e n in der B u n d e s r e p u b l ik D eutschland, (in:) F orsch u n gs- u n d S itzu n g sb e r ic h te der A k a d e m i e fü r R au m fo r sc h u n g und L a n d e s ­ pla n u n g , vol. X IV , R aum und B evölk eru n g 1, W alter Dorn V erlag, B rem en 1960. 7 M. L. S t r o n g i n a : S o c ia ln o -e k o n o m ic z e s k ije p r o b l e m y r a z w i t i j a bolszich g o r o d o w w SS S R . M oscow 1970.

8 A. H a u 1 e y: H u m a n Ecology. A T h e o r y of C o m m u n it y S tr u ctu re. The R o­ nald Press. N ew York 1950.

9 O. D. D u n c a n e t a l.: M etropolis and Reg io n: R esources of the Future. Joh n H opkins P ress, B altim ore 1960.

10 B. J. L. B e r r y : G r o w t h C e n te r s in A m e r i c a n U rb a n S y s t e m . B ellin ger, C am bridge, M ass. 1973.

11 P. H a l l e t a 1.: T h e C o n ta i n m e n t of U rb a n England, vols. I, II, L ondon 1973.

12 P la n i r o w k a i z a s tr o j k a bolszich gorodow . C ollection of studies. M oscow 1961. 13 W. G. D a w i d o w i c z , G. M. L a p p o : W o p r o s y r o z w i t i j a g o ro d s k ich a g lo m ie r a c y i w S S S R (in:) S o w r i e m i e n n y j e p r o b l e m y gieografii.

T u lu se, N a n te s -S a in t N a z a ire , S tr a s b u r g .15 T he ra tio n a l s tim u la tio n of th e se la rg e -c ity c o n c e n tra tio n s in th e fo rm of a g g lo m e ra tio n s w as ju s ti­ fied b y th e n e e d to b a la n c e th e d o m in a n c e of th e P a ris ag g lo m e ra tio n in th e te r r ito r ia l s tr u c tu r e of F ra n c e .

T h e d e lim ita tio n m e th o d s em p lo y ed in p a r tic u la r c o u n trie s of th e w o rld re v e a l a v e r y g re a t v a r ie ty of th e d e lim itin g c rite ria . T h e y can be d iv id e d in to tw o ty p e s , q u a n tita tiv e a n d q u a lita tiv e . T h e fo rm e r c rite ria seem to p re d o m in a te w h ic h m a y r e s u lt fro m a n e v id e n t te n d e n c y to q u a n tif y u rb a n iz a tio n p h e n o m e n a e x a m in e d . A m o re d e ta ile d c h a ra c te ri­ z a tio n of th e d e lim itin g c r ite ria m a k e s it p ossible to d iv id e th e m in to th e d e m o g ra p h ic a n d n o n -d e m o g ra p h ic ty p es. A s a ru le , th e fo rm e r g ro u p of c r ite ria o ccurs in th e fo rm of q u a n tita tiv e in d ex es. T h e m o st p o p u la r in d e x e s in th is g ro u p in clu d e: th e p o p u la tio n of th e c e n tra l city, p o p u la tio n d e n s ity , p e rc e n ta g e of n o n -a g r ic u ltu r a l p o p u la tio n , o r com ­ m u ta tio n to w o rk . T h ese in d e x e s a re o fte n re g a rd e d as d ecisiv e in th e d e lim ita tio n of th e a g g lo m e ra tio n sy stem . T h e n o n -d e m o g ra p h ic c r ite ­ ria, in tu r n , m o st o fte n occu r' in th e fo rm of q u a lita tiv e in d ex es. T h e y a re u s u a lly a p p lie d fo r th e re p re s e n ta tio n of th e c h a ra c te r a n d m ode of d e v e lo p in g th e a re a s w h ic h a s p ire to th e ra n k of a g g lo m e ra tio n s. In mos1 cases th e y h a v e a fu n c tio n of c r ite r ia w h ic h c o m p le m e n t th e q u a n t i t a ­ tiv e in d e x e s th o u g h so m etim e s, e.g. in G re a t B rita in , in d e m a rc a tin g c o n u rb a tio n s th e y d ecid e a b o u t in c lu d in g a g iv en a re a w ith in th e m .

T h e d e lim itin g c r ite ria e m p lo y e d a b ro a d also re v e a l a f u r th e r d iv i­ sion of th e c r ite ria in to th o se e x p re s s in g th e fu n c tio n a l fe a tu re s of p a r ­ tic u la r a re a s of th e a g g lo m e ra tio n a n d th o se e x p re s s in g th e fe a tu re s of th e in te rc o n n e c tio n s b e tw e e n th e se areas. A p a rt fro m th a t, th e fe a tu re s of th e in te rc o n n e c tio n s a r e co m m o n ly e x p re ss e d b y th e m a g n itu d e a n d d ire c tio n s of c o m m u tin g to w o rk b y th e in h a b ita n ts of th e a g g lo m e ra ­ tion. O n ly in fe w cases a r e th e y a d d itio n a lly e x p re ss e d b y o th e r c rite ria , e.g. th e ra n g e of se rv ic e s p ro v id e d b y th e c e n tr a l c ity fo r th e re m a in in g a re a s o f th e a g g lo m e ra tio n (th is is t r u e m a in ly of th e U n ite d S ta te s an d th e S o v ie t U nion). N e v e rth e le ss, it sh o u ld be e m p h a siz e d th a t it is to th e in d e x e s of in te rc o n n e c tio n s t h a t an in c re a s in g ly im p o rta n t ro le is a sc ri­ b ed in d is tin g u is h in g a g g lo m e ra tio n s. As h as a lre a d y b ee n m e n tio n e d , th e c r ite ria of th is ty p e w e re in tro d u c e d , am o n g o th e rs, b y B. J. L. B e r­ r y a n d P. H all. In s te a d of th e te r m ’’a g g lo m e ra tio n ” , th e se a u th o rs used ev en th e co n cep t ’’D a ily U rb a n S y s te m s ” to s tre s s th e fa c t th a t th e b o r­ d e rs of a g g lo m e ra tio n s sh o u ld be c h a ra c te riz e d b y a h ig h d e g re e of clo­ s u re of th e s p h e re s of th e d a ily c o n ta c ts of th e ir in h a b ita n ts .

15 B. W i n i a r s k i : P o l i t y k a region aln a (R egio nal Policy), PW E, W arszaw a 1966, pp. 80— 83, 321.

D elim ita tio n P roblem s . ₇₇

S u m m in g up, it m a y be s ta te d th a t d iffe ren c es in th e d e lim ita tio n m e th o d s of d e te rm in in g th e b o rd e rs of a g g lo m eratio n s em p lo y ed in p a r ­ tic u la r c o u n trie s of th e w o rld a re co n d itio n ed by th e specific need s and th e in fo rm a tio n re so u rc e s a t th e ir disposal. A lth o u g h in som e co u n trie s th e in flu e n c e of th e U n ite d N a tio n s p ro p o sitio n s is e v id e n t in th e field c o n c e rn in g th e co ncept of ag g lo m eratio n an d th e^b asic c r ite ria of its d e ­ lim ita tio n , still a m a rg in of freed o m le ft by th is o rg a n iz a tio n in fo rm u ­ la tin g m o re d e ta ile d in d e x e s is w id e en o u g h to allow fo r th e p e rsiste n c e of c o n sid erab le d iffe re n c e s in th is field.

CH ARA CTERIZA TIO N OF A GGLO M ERATIO N DELIM ITING M ETHODS IN POLAN D

T he effe c ts of th e ad v a n cin g u rb a n iz a tio n processes in th e P o lish s ta ­ te since W o rld W a r II m ay be fo u n d in c le a rly d is tin g u ish e d u rb a n ag g lo m e ra tio n s w ith in its u rb a n s e ttle m e n t sy stem . T h e h a rd e n in g of th e d e g lo m e ra tio n policy in th e 1960’s in re sp e c t to th e la rg e s t cities in P o ­ la n d could n o t h in d e r th e p ro cess of th e ir tra n s fo rm a tio n in to u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s. In science th e fa c t w as re fle c te d in stu d ie s on th e se co m p lex s e ttle m e n t sy ste m s an d special a tte n tio n w as paid to th e ir d e li­ m itin g c rite ria . T he d e p a rtu re fro m th e d e g lo m e ra tio n policy a t th e b e ­ g in n in g of th e 1970’s a n d a ch a n g e of o pinions in econom ic p ra c tic e a b o u t th e u n a v o id a b ility of a g g lo m e ra tio n processes w e re ac co m p an ied b y d iscussions co n c ern in g , am ong o th e rs, th e u n ific a tio n of te rm in o lo g y in th is fie ld a n d th e d e lim ita tio n m eth o d s. In con seq u en ce of th e s e discu ssio n s a re la tiv e u n ity h as been ac h ie v ed in th e ideas ab o u t th e essen ce of th e u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n as a p h en o m en o n , process, a n d p h a se of u rb a n iz a tio n .16 I t is still an o pen m a tte r to re co n cile o pinio ns on th e m e th o d of d istin g u ish in g u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s w ith in th e s e ttle m e n t sy stem . T h e p ro b le m does n o t lie in th e lack of d e lim ita tio n m eth o d s, becau se in th is fie ld w e h av e a t o u r d isposal m a n y u se fu l m e th o d s w o r­ k e d o u t b y te a m s of sc ien tists, single sch o lars, and , m o st re c e n tly , by econom ic p ra c titio n e rs . It sh o u ld be p o in te d o u t th a t th e b e g in n in g of s c h o la rly co n sid e ra tio n s on th e d istin c tio n of ag g lo m e ra tio n s in P o la n d goes b ack to th e 1960’s, a n d e v e n e a rlie r in th is fie ld one could o b serv e c e rta in in itia tiv e s com ing m a in ly fro m in d iv id u a l sch o lars. H o w ev er, th e l a t t e r c o n c ern e d p ro b lem s of d istin g u is h in g in d u s tria l re g io n s a n d c e n ­ tre s r a th e r th a n u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s in th e lite ra l sense of th e te rm . T h e e v a lu a tio n of th e d e lim ita tio n m eth o d s w o rk e d o u t in P o la n d sh o u ld be c a rrie d o u t in th re e asp ects, ea ch c o n c ern in g th e ra n g e an d c h a ra c te r of stu d ie s, k in d an d s e t of th e d e lim itin g c rite ria , a n d re a liz e d a n a ly tic a l aim s.

T h e fo rm u la tio n of an u n e q u iv o c a l e stim a tio n of th e ra n g e of stu d ies co n d u c te d on u r b a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s in P o la n d is n o t a sim p le m a tte r. In th is re sp e c t th e d e lim ita tio n m e th o d s d iffe r v e r y g re a tly am on g th e m ­ selves. H e re th e sim p le st e v a lu a tio n m u s t be b ase d on th e ir d iv isio n in to tw o g ro u p s. T h e f ir s t o n e w o u ld co n c e rn th e m e th o d s lim ite d to a d e te r ­ m in a tio n of th e b o rd e rs of a g g lo m e ra tio n s ac c e p te d a p rio ri a n d to a c h a ­ ra c te riz a tio n of th e i r in n e r s tru c tu re s . As an e x a m p le of th is g ro u p of m e th o d s one m a y m e n tio n th e co n cep ts of d e lim itin g th e m e tro p o lita n re g io n of W a rsa w b y K. L ie r,17 e ig h t la rg e s t to w n c o n c e n tra tio n s in P o ­ la n d b y E. Iw a n ic k a - L y ra 18, th e W a rsa w a g g lo m e ra tio n b y B. K o s tru - biec,19 o r te n u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s w h o se c e n tre s a re re p re s e n te d b y th e te n la rg e s t cities of th e c o u n try b y A. S ta s ia k .20 In th e second g ro u p of m e th o d s th e s p e c ific a tio n of th e b o rd e rs of p a r tic u la r a g g lo m e ra tio n s is p re c e d e d by in v e s tig a tio n s c o n c e rn in g th e d e te rm in a tio n of th e ir co n ­ c e n tra tio n in th e a re a of th e c o u n try . A n e x a m p le of th e m e th o d s m e n ­ tio n ed ab ove m a y b e p ro v id e d b y th e fo llo w in g d e lim ita tio n s: n in e com ­ p ac t t e r r ito r ia l sy ste m s ac co rd in g to th e co n c ep tio n b y K. D ziew o ń sk i a n d L. K o siń sk i,21 th ir te e n d ev e lo p e d u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s ac co rd in g to th e co n c ep tio n b y th e te a m d ire c te d b y K . D z ie w o ń sk i,22 s ix te e n u rb a n -in d u - s tria l a g g lo m e ra tio n s ac co rd in g to th e co n c ep tio n d esig n ed b y th e te a m of S. L eszczycki, P. E b e r h a rd t, a n d S. H e rm a n ,23, tw e n ty one m e tro

-17 K. L i e r : R eg io n m e t r o p o l i t a l n y W a r s z a w y : P ró b a d e li m i t a c j i (T he W a r s a w M e t r o p o li ta n Region: A n A t t e m p t at D elim it a ti o n ) (in:) Z bad a ń n a d s t r u k t u r ą p r z e ­ st r z e n n ą g o s p o d a r k i n a r o d o w e j P o lsk i (F rom S t u d i e s on th e T e r r i to r i a l S tr u c tu r e of the N ation al E c o n o m y of Pola nd) „ B iu letyn K PZ K P A N ”, no. 85, 1965, pp. 50—86.

18 E. I w a n i c k a - L y r a : D e lim it a c ja a g lo m e ra c ji w i e l k o m i e j s k i c h w Polsce (The D e lim it a ti o n of L a rg e C i t y A g g lo m e r a ti o n s in Poland). „Prace G eograficzne IG P A N ”, no. 76, 1969.

19 B. K o s t r u b i e c : Ba d a n ia r o z w o j u p r z e s t r z e n n e g o a g lo m e r a c j i m i e js k ic h m e t o d ą p r o f iló w (I n v e s ti g a ti o n s on the T e r r i to r i a l G r o w t h of U rb a n A g g lo m e r a ti o n s b y the M eth o d of Profiles). „P rzegląd G eo g ra ficzn y ”, vol. X L II, no. 2, 1970, pp. 235— 257.

20 A. S t a s i a k : R o z w ó j a g lo m e r a c j i m i e j s k i c h w Polsce (The D e v e l o p m e n t of U rb a n A g g lo m e r a ti o n s in Poland). „Studia K PZ K P A N ” 1973.

21 K. D z i e w o ń s k i , L. K o s i ń s k i : R o z m i e s z c z e n i e lu dności w Polsce w X X w i e k u (P o p u la tio n D is t r ib u t io n in P o la n d in th e 20th C entu ry). „P rzegląd G eo g ra ficzn y ”, v o l. X X X V I, no. 1, 1964, pp. 3— 36.

22 K. D z i e w o ń s k i e t al . : P o te n c j a ł lu dności P o l s k i w latach 1950— 1970 (The P o p u la t io n P o te n t ia l in Po la n d in th e Y e a r s 1950— 1970). „P rzegląd G eogra­ fic z n y ”, vol. X LV I, no. 2, pp. 183— 204.

23 S. L e s z c z y ń s k i , P. E b e r h a r d t , S. H e r m a n : A g lo m e r a c je m i e j -s k o - p r z e m y -s ł o w e w Pol-sce w la ta ch 1966— 2000 (C it y - I n d u -s tr i a l A g g lo m e ra tio n -s in

b e lim ita tio n P roblem s ... 79

p o lita n a re a s b y th e m e th o d w o rk e d ou t in th e C e n tra l S ta tis tic a l O ffi­ ce, 24 eig h tee n a g g lo m e ra tio n s according to a v e rifie d co nceptio n of th e te r r ito r ia l d e v e lo p m e n t p la n fo r th e y e a rs 1970— 1990.25

Som e m e th o d s of d e lim ita tio n are c h a ra c te riz e d b y a v a lu a b le a p p ro a c h w h ic h ta k e s in to co n sid eratio n p h e n o m e n a of b ro a d e r n a tu re . In th e se m eth o d s, u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s a re re g a rd e d as som e of th e m a n ife sta tio n s of socio-econom ic processes ta k in g p lace in th e c o u n try (e.g. th e e le m e n t of p o p u la tio n p h e n o m e n a in th e m e th o d w o rk e d o u t b y K. D z iew o ń sk i a n d his team ) or as a d e te rm in e d sy ste m in th e te r r it o ­ ria l s tr u c tu r e of th e c o u n try (e.g. th e m ain no d es in th e n o d a l-s tria ta l sy s te m in th e co nception d esig n ed by th e te a m of S. L eszczyń sk i, P. E b e r h a rd t a n d S. H e rm an ).

T h e a p p ro a c h to th e a g g lo m e ra tio n as a p h e n o m en o n d ev e lo p in g in tim e h as b ee n re fle c te d in in te re s tin g m eth o d o lo g ical so lu tio n s allo w in g fo r a p o ssib ility of re c o rd in g processes of th e rise and g ro w th an d th e se c o m p lex s e ttle m e n t sy stem s an d th e ir m u tu a l c o m p a ra b ility in tim e , r e ­ g a rd le ss of ch an g es in th e p o litica l an d a d m in is tra tiv e d iv isio ns of th e P o lis h state. A s illu s tra tio n s of su c h so lu tio n s one sh o u ld m e n tio n s t u ­ dies b y P o lish g eo g rap h ers, K. D ziew oński an d L. K osiński. In th e ir in ­ v e stig a tio n s, re p e a te d a t c e rta in in te rv a ls of tim e, on th e d is trib u tio n of th e p o p u la tio n of P o la n d a n d ch an g es in th is .field w ith in p erio d s of se v ­ e ra l scores of y ea rs, th e y m ad e use of th e p e rfe c te d m eth o d s of an a r b it r a r y div isio n of th e c o u n try . In itia lly th is d iv ision a p p e a re d in th e fo rm of a h e x a g o n a l26 g rid of 300 h exagons, th e a re a of each c o rre s p o n ­ d in g to a b o u t 1000 s q u a re k ilo m e te rs; la te r on it w as d ev elo p ed in to a g rid of 2500 s q u a re s,27 a n d fin a lly a g rid of re g u la r a re a s 28 in th e fo rm of sq u a re s, ea c h c o rre sp o n d in g to th e a re a of ab o u t 100 s q u a re k ilo ­ m e te rs . T he re fin e m e n t of th e a r b itr a r y d ivision of th e c o u n try m ad e it p ossible fo r th e a u th o rs to ach iev e a m o re p re cise an d clo ser to th e re a li­ ty p ic tu re of th e sh a p in g of th e u rb a n iz a tio n p rocesses (in clu d in g agg lo ­ m e ra tio n processes) in th e a re a of th e c o u n try . T he te n d e n c y to e n s u re

24 Z. G o n t a r s k i: O s a d n ic t w o w i e l k o m i e j s k i e w s t a t y s t y c e re gionaln ej (L ar­ ge C i t y S e t t l e m e n t s in Regio nal S ta tis tics). „W iadom ości S ta ty sty czn e”, no. 8, 1972, pp. 20—23.

25 K. F i e d o r o w i c z : S y s t e m osa d n iczy w pla nie p r z e s tr z e n n e g o za g o s p o d a ­ r o w a n ia k ra ju do 1990 r. (The S e t t l e m e n t S y s t e m in th e Plan of T errito ria l D e v e ­ lo p m e n t of th e C o u n tr y u n til 1990). „M iasto”, no. 9, 1976, pp. 1—5.

26 K. D z i e w o ń s k i , L. K o s i ń s k i : R o zm ie szc z e n ie lu dności w Polsce..., op. cit.

27 K. D z i e w o ń s k i , L. K o s i ń s k i : R o z w ó j i ro z m ie s z c z e n ie lu dności Pol­ sk i w X X w i e k u (The G r o w t h and D is trib u tio n of Polish P op u la tio n in th e 20th cen tu ry). PW N, W arszaw a 1967.

th e c o m p a ra b ility of a g g lo m e ra tio n s in tim e a n d sp ac e is also e v id e n t, th o u g h to a le s se r e x te n t, in th e p a p e rs b y o th e r a u th o rs , am o n g o th e rs, by W. W d o w iak w h o em p lo y ed a r b itr a r y is o -u rb a n iz a tio n lin e s,29 or b y B. K o s tru b ie c w ho u se d th e iso -lin e m e th o d fo r th e divisio n of th e a r e a of th e W a rsa w a g g lo m e ra tio n in to s e v e ra l c o n c e n tric rin g s .30

In m a n y m e th o d s w o rk e d o u t in P o la n d f o r th e d iffe re n tia tio n of u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s t h e r e a p p e a rs an e v id e n t te n d e n c y to ac cep t c r i­ te r ia w h ic h co u ld m a k e in te rn a tio n a l co m p ariso n s p ossible. O ne m a y m e n tio n h e re in v e s tig a tio n s c a rrie d o u t in th is fie ld b y th e C e n tra l S ta ­ tis tic a l O ffice w h ic h em p lo y th e d e lim itin g c r ite ria re c o m m e n d e d b y th e U n ite d N a tio n s.31

S om e d e lim ita tio n m e th o d s a re c h a ra c te riz e d b y an in te re s tin g f e a ­ tu r e in p la c in g sp ec ia l e m p h a sis on th e se le c tio n of in v e s tig a tio n te c h ­ n iq u e s. In som e of th e m e v e n h ig h ly fo rm a liz e d n u m e ric a l c o m p u ta ­ tio n — c a rto g ra p h ic te c h n iq u e s a r e em p lo y ed . O n e sh o u ld m e n tio n h e re , f ir s t of all, th e u se of th e m o d el of th e p o te n tia l fo r a d e sc rip tio n of p o ­ p u la tio n d is trib u tio n in P o la n d a n d ch a n g es in th is re s p e c t w ith in th e p a s t 60 y e a rs b y K. D z ie w o n sk i’s te a m , m e n tio n e d above. O ne c a n n o t o m it stu d ie s b y th e a u th o rs a lre a d y q u o te d , s u c h as B. K o s tru b ie c or E. Iw a n ic k a -L y ra , w ho also w id e ly em p lo y m a th e m a tic a l m eth o d s.

P o lis h d e lim ita tio n m e th o d s d iffe r c o n s id e ra b ly a m o n g th e m se lv e s (lik e in o th e r c o u n trie s) w ith re g a rd to th e se ts of th e c r ite ria app lied . In th is re s p e c t an im p o r ta n t f e a tu r e is a te n d e n c y , b eco m in g m o re e v i­ d e n t w ith th e p assa g e of tim e , to e n la rg e th e ir se ts of c r ite ria . P a r tic u la r a u th o rs a re tr y in g to e x p re s s th e co m p lic a te d fe a tu r e s of a g g lo m e ra tio n s o r of th e p ro c esses ta k in g p lace in th e m w ith th e h e lp of a p p ro p ria te in d ex es. A m o n g d e lim ita tio n in d e x e s, q u a n tita tiv e m e a s u re s p re d o m i­

n a te , a lth o u g h th e s till e x is tin g d iffic u ltie s in th e q u a n tific a tio n of som e s p a tia l p h e n o m e n a ju s tif y th e u se of d e s c rip tiv e m e a su re s. L ik e in o th e r s ta te s , th e q u a n tita tiv e m e a s u re s e m p lo y e d m o s t o fte n h a v e a d e m o g ra ­ p h ic c h a ra c te r. I t re s u lts fro m th e fa c t of th e re la tiv e ly e a sie st

29

w.

30 B. K o s t r u b i e c : B a d a n ia r o z w o j u p r z e s t r z e n n e g o aglo m eracji., op. cit. 31 M. K l i m c z y k , A. M i j a k o w s k i: P ró b a d e li m i t a c j i r e g io n ó w m e t r o ­ p o li ta l n y c h w Polsce (A n A t t e m p t to D e li m i t a t e M e t r o p o li ta n A r e a s in Poland) „W iadom ości S ta ty sty c z n e ” no. 3, 1968, pp. 27— 30; J. K i k o l s k a - L e s i a k , A. M i j a k o w s k i : I n f o r m a c j e o p ra c a c h G U S d o ty c z ą c y c h o b s z a r ó w m e t r o p o l i ­ ta l n y c h w Polsce ( I n fo rm a tio n on th e S t u d i e s of th e C en tra l S ta t is ti c a l O ffice on the M e t r o p o li ta n R egio ns in Pola nd) (in:) D e l i m i t a c j a o b s z a r ó w z u r b a n i z o w a n y c h (The D e lim it a ti o n of U r b a n iz e d A reas) „ B iu letyn K PZ K P A N ”, no. 57, 1970, pp. 85— 93; Z. G o n t a r s k i : O s a d n ic t w o w i e l k o m i e j s k i e , op. cit.

D elim ita tio n P roblem s ₈₁

e x p re ssio n of th e p o p u la tio n p h e n o m e n a in a m e a s u ra b le fo rm on th e b asis of th e a lre a d y e x istin g s ta tis tic a l d a ta . T he c o n fo rm ity w ith th e la te s t d e lim ita tio n a p p ro ach e s in th e w o rld is also o b serv ed in re s p e c t to th e e v id e n t p re fe re n c e of in d ex es re fle c tin g th e fe a tu re s of th e i n t e r ­ co n n e ctio n s of th e a g g lo m e ra tio n areas. Y et, th e d iffic u ltie s in th e q u a n ­ tita tiv e e x p re ssio n of th e in te rc o n n e c tio n fe a tu re s m a k e th e scale an d ra n g e of c o m m u ta tio n th e m o st p o p u la r in d ex . M an y a u th o rs p erceiv e a c le a r d ra w b a c k in th e d esig n ed m eth o d s of a g g lo m e ra tio n d e m a rc a tio n in th a t th e y do n o t a d a p t th e d e lim itin g c r ite ria to th e h ig h ly d iffe re n ­ tia te d as w e ll as co m p licated p h e n o m e n a o c c u rrin g in th e a g g lo m e ra tio n a r e a an d in th e p re s e n tly e x istin g d iffic u ltie s in th e d e te rm in a tio n of th e p o ssib ly o b je c tiv e lim itin g v a lu e s of p a r tic u la r in d ex es. A cco rd in g to m a n y a u th o rs of d e lim ita tio n m eth o d s, a w a y o u t of th is s itu a tio n is to be fo u n d in a d a p tin g th e b ase of s ta tis tic a l d a ta to th e n ee d s of in v e s ti­ g a tio n s an d th e o re tic a l stu d ie s on a g g lo m eratio n s, in clu d in g th e p ro b lem s of d e te rm in in g th e ir lim its as w ell.

It seem s th a t an im p o rta n t d ra w b a c k of th e d e lim ita tio n m eth o d s w o rk e d o u t in P o la n d an d e lse w h e re is n o t o n ly th e f a r re a c h in g d iffe r­ e n tia tio n in th e scopes of s tu d ie s a n d ty p e s of th e c rite ria ap p lied , b u t also th e e v id e n t la c k of in te g ra tio n of th e ir p u rp o se s co n c ern in g sc ie n ­ ce, s ta tistic s, a n d p la n n in g . As a ru le , p a r tic u la r d e lim ita tio n m e th o d s a re to se rv e one, c le a rly o u tlin e d a n a ly tic a l p u rp o se, ta k in g sm all accoun t, o r n one a t all, of th e re m a in in g aim s. The p ro b le m is w o rth y of a tte n tio n in so f a r as in th e lite r a tu r e th e a ttitu d e to w a rd s th e in te ­ g r ity of a n a ly tic a l p u rp o se s is p ra c tic a lly u n q u e stio n a b le . N e v e rth e le ss, c o n tra ry to th e a ttitu d e ta k e n , th e th esis of th e in te g rity of p u rp o se s c o n c e rn in g science, sta tis tic s an d p la n n in g fin d s no co n firm a tio n in a n y d e lim ita tio n m e th o d d esig n ed in P o la n d o r elsew h ere . M o reo ver, th e c o n stru c tio n of z. sin g le m e th o d m e e tin g th e re q u ir e m e n t of th e in te g r i­ ty of a n a ly tic a l p u rp o se s is c o n sid ered to be a d iffic u lt ta sk , th o u g h p e r ­ h a p s n o t in fea sib le . I t seem s th a t th e f ir s t ste p to solve th is p ro b le m is to m a k e a choice fro m am o n g th e dev ised d e lim ita tio n co n cep ts of th o se m e th o d s w h ic h se rv e p a r tic u la r a n a ly tic a l p u rp o se s a n d in te g ra te th e m in to one re s e a rc h p ro c e d u re to c o n s titu te a process of th e d e lim ita tio n of an ag g lo m e ra tio n sy stem . T he p ro p o sed m a n n e r of d iffe re n tia tin g an a g g lo m e ra tio n h as b een v e rifie d on th e e x a m p le of th e L u b lin ag g lo m e­ r a tio n .32 T h e essence of th is co n cep tio n is n o t to o ffer a n e w m e th o d b u t to ta k e a d v a n ta g e of th e m e th o d s a lre a d y d esig n ed on th e p rin c ip le of in te g ra tin g th re e se le c te d m eth o d s, each of w h ich se rv in g a c le a rly

32 U. W i c h: A g lo m e r a c ja lu b e lsk a i cz y n n i k i k sz ta łt u ją c e je j r o z w ó j (The L u b lin A g g lo m e r a tio n and Facto rs S h apin g its D e v e lo p m e n t) UM CS, W ydział Eko­ nom iczny, L ublin 1977.

o u tlin e d p u rp o se , i.e. th o se of s ta tis tic s , science, a n d p la n n in g . In co n ­ s e q u e n c e of th is in te g ra tio n w e o b ta in e d a d e lim ita tio n m e th o d c h a ra c te ­ riz e d b y th e in te g r ity of a n a ly tic a l p u rp o se s. N a tu ra lly , th e m eth o d m a y still h a v e so m e im p e rfe c tio n s o r too fa r going sim p lific a tio n s, n e v e r ­ th e le s s, it see m s th a t its v a lu e lies in p ro v in g th e fe a s ib ility of d e ­ sig n in g a d e lim ita tio n m e th o d of u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s c h a ra c te riz e d by th e d e s ira b le in te g rity ^ o f a n a ly tic a l p u rp o se s.

T h e v a rio u s co n c ep tio n s ab o u t th e d e te r m in a tio n of th e lim its of u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s, ev en if p re s e n te d so b rie fly , re v e a l in co n seq u en ce q u ite c o n sid e ra b le d iffe re n c e s in th e n u m e ro u s n e s s of th e ir se ts an d th e size of th e a re a s. S till, th e se d iffe re n c e s c a n n o t h id e th e fa c t th a t in all d e lim ita tio n s th e sam e a g g lo m e ra tio n s re c u r an d in c lu d e K a to w ice, W a r­ saw , Ł ódź, G d a ń sk , C racow , W ro claw , an d P o zn ań . T his c le a rly in d ic a te s th e e v id e n t e m e rg e n c e of th e s e a g g lo m e ra tio n s y ste m s in th e te r r ito r ia l s tr u c tu r e of th e c o u n try . T h e v e r y p h e n o m e n o n c a n n o t be e ffe c te d to a n y la r g e r e x te n t ev en b y d iffe re n t d e lim ita tio n m eth o d s. T h e in flu e n c e of th is d iffe re n c e is c le a re r in cases of th e s e p a ra tio n an d d e te rm in a tio n of th e lim its of a g g lo m e ra tio n s in s ta tu s n asc en d i, su ch as B ielsko B iała, C zęstochow a, O pole, S ta ro p o lsk a a g g lo m e ra tio n , W a łb rz y c h , a n d L u b lin .

CO N CLUSION

A c o rre c t d e te r m in a tio n of th e lim its of u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s is one of th e m o st d iffic u lt an d im p o rta n t p ro b le m s in th e th e o ry an d p la n n in g of u r b a n s e ttle m e n t sy stem s. T he d iffic u ltie s re s u lt m a in ly fro m th e co n ­ tra d ic tio n b e tw e e n th e p ric ip a lly s ta tic c h a ra c te r of th e v e ry a c t of d e ­ lim ita tio n an d th e p ra c tic a lly u n in te r r u p te d e v o lu tio n of th e a g g lo m e ra ­ tion sy ste m . A re s o lu tio n of th is c o n tra d ic tio n m a y be so u g h t fo r n o t o n ly in th e re fin e m e n t of th e m e th o d s of a g g lo m e ra tio n d e lim ita tio n , b u t also in co u p lin g th is ta s k w ith re s e a rc h on th e d iffe re n tia te d asp e cts of th e s p a tia l a n d fu n c tio n a l o rg a n iz a tio n of th e s e ttle m e n t sy stem s. Im p o r­ ta n t im p lic a tio n s fo r th e d e lim ita tio n m e th o d s m a y also re s u lt fro m th e th e o ry of econom ic b ase a n d fu n c tio n a l s tr u c t u r e of to w n s. A c o rre c t d e lim ita tio n of u rb a n a g g lo m e ra tio n s is also c o n d itio n e d b y a v alid an d ra tio n a l e s tim a tio n of th e ir place in th e s p a tia l — econom ic s tr u c tu r e of th e c o u n try , as w e ll as th e p lace of ea ch a g g lo m e ra tio n am o n g th e o th e rs . In th is case, th e r u le of se q u e n c e b y size of s e ttle m e n t sy stem s, w h ic h is p e r fe c tly s u ite d fo r th e p u rp o se , w o u ld also fin d ap p lica tio n .

T h e im p o rta n c e of a v a lid d e lim ita tio n of an a g g lo m e ra tio n sy ste m re fle c ts th e im p o ssib ility of a c o rre c t c o n tro l o v e r su c h a c o m p lex s e ttle ­ m e n t sy s te m w ith o u t an a p rio ri sp e c ific a tio n of th e lim its of th is a re a

D elim ita tio n P roblem s 83

on w h ich th e ta sk is to be p e rfo rm e d . T hus, th e av o id an ce of th e sp o n ­ ta n e ity of ag g lo m e ra tio n processes is in s e p a ra b ly co n n ected w ith th e c o r­ re c tn e ss of th e d e lim ita tio n of a re a s w h e re th e se processes a re ta k in g p lace or a re e x p e c te d to o cc u r in th e fu tu re .

S T R E S Z C Z E N I E

N a tle uporządkow anej term in ologii w dziedzinie aglom eracji m iejsk ich oraz zaak cen tow an ej znacznej w a g i a zarazem trudności popraw nej ich d elim ita cji z u k ładu osadniczego, autorka opracow ania dokonuje przeglądu św ia to w y ch i p o l­ sk ich m etod w yod ręb n ian ia aglom eracji m iejskich. Przegląd ten sprow adza się do u w y p u k len ia n ie tylko zalet, lecz przede w szystk im słabości i w ad w y p ra co w a ­ nych m etod d elim itacyjn ych , co w su m ie decyduje o n iep o ró w n y w a ln o ści a g lo m e­ racji p om iędzy sobą n a w et w granicach jednego pań stw a, osłabia też sk u teczność działań na rzecz p raw id łow ego ukieru n k ow an ia procesów rozw ojow ych zach od zą­ cych na obszarach tych złożonych układów osadniczych. Za jed n ą z głó w n y ch w ad w yp racow an ych m etod d elim itacyjn ych autorka uznaje odm ienność ich c eló w b a­ daw czych. N a tej p od staw ie form u łu je k oncepcję m etody cechującej się pożądaną in tegraln ością celów : p oznaw czych, statystyczn ych i plan istyczn ych .

Р Е З Ю М Е На ф о н е уп оря доченной терминологии в области городских агломераций, с учетом как значимости, так и трудности их правильного вы деления из п о сел ен ­ ческого ук лада, в статье дается обзор польских и за р у б еж н ы х м етодов в ы д ел е­ ния городских агломераций. Этот обзор охваты вает не только достоинства, но и недостатк и вы работанны х методов вы деления, приводящ ие к тому, что н еср а ­ внимы д а ж е агломерации внутри одного государства, а кроме того, ослаблена эф ф ек ти в н о ст ь действий, направляю щ и х процессы их развития. Одним из глав­ ны х недостатков сущ ествую щ и х до сих пор вы делительны х м етодов автор считает тот ф ак т, что они п реследую т различны е исследовательск ие цели. На этой основе, ф о р м ули р уется концепция метода, объедин яю щ его позн авательны е, статистическ ие и планировочны е цели.