Problemy wzrostu i rozwoju złożonych układów osadniczych

Abstract

The aim of the presentation is discussing some methodological problems of identification of the process of growth and development in complex settlement systems with special reference to Katowice conurbation (Poland). According to the Author, the investigation of complex settlement systems requires considering such phenomena and processes as coincidence (territorial overlapping of social-economic relations), functional fragmentation (significant spatial and functional differentiation within a settlement system), and multiplier effects (creation of additional growth as a consequence of coincidence). In the hitherto social-economic investigations of various areas, usually growth and development trends were stressed, whereas the revealing problems of the world’s economy as well as depopulation and population ageing require including these phenomena in growth and development models in various territorial scales. Katowice conurbation is an illustration of the complexity of the discussed problems. Due to such factors as – 1) inconsiderable predominance of social-economic potential of the central city in relation to other cities, 2) historically concentric-decentralizing direction of transformations which is against the model of urbanization, 3) importance of polycentric structures in social-economic transformations, and 4) poorly revealing processes of external suburbanization – it is necessary to start different methodological approach in growth and development investigations as compared to classic agglomeration systems. The results of investigations of transformation processes in Katowice conurbation and also these observed in other complex settlement systems of the Silesian Province (Rybnik conurbation, Bielsko-Biała agglomeration, Częstochowa agglomeration) emphasize territorial and hierarchical (local and regional scales) complexity of growth and development processes.