Abstract:

The purpose of the study was to evaluate selected development aspects of cities which performed the function of voivodeship capital cities before and after the 1999 reform. The scope of analysis covered demographic transformations, public institutions and access to transport infrastructure. The research presented herein corresponds with the trend present in Polish academic literature, related to impact of the most recent administrative reform onto city development. The analyses confirmed favourable impact of holding the status of an administrative region capital city onto social and economic development of the city. Obtaining the status of a regional capital involved an increase in the number of residents, establishment of new public institutions and greater attractiveness to entrepreneurs. On the other hand, reduced importance of a city involved outflow of residents, some of the institutions and enterprises.