3. Human development in Poland
Graph: 3.10 Change of monthly social security and family income per voivodeship inhabitant from 2007 to 2010 (in %). 12.0
9.6
10.0 8.0
6.7 5.3
6.0 3.6
4.0 2.0
0.5
0.8
1.0
1.6
1.9
2.3
3.8
4.1
5.7
4.3
2.3
0.0 -2.0
-0.4
Source: Own study on the basis of the Central Statistical Office data.
The poorest voivodeships are characterised by the highest dynamics, which seems to be an obvious effect of public policy. Our attention is drawn to Lower Silesia and Podkarpacie, where the share of income from social security falls most rapidly. In the case of Podkarpacie, this fall might be the effect of a large initial base of people receiving social security. Income thresholds for receiving social security have not been raised since 2006, which has successfully reduced receipts over time for many people. The minimum existence value in the year 201218 for all types of households is greater than the income criterion for a self-governing individual, which amounts to PLN 477 a month. It is also greater than the income criterion per family member which is PLN 351 per family member, while the minimum existence value for a member of a 3-persons-family amounts to PLN 404.12. The value for a 2-persons-family amounts to PLN 425.74 (Kurowski 2012). The first discrepancies between the values of income criterions and minimum values for certain family models could be observed already as of 2008. The discrepancies would further deepen in the following years due to the cessation of those funds. Counties with a rising poverty level, that is where inhabitants receive continuously more social security resources are as follows: Busko, Ostrołęka, Włocławek, Lipno, Dąbrowa, Kielce, Łobsko, Stachów, Ostrzeszów and Świdwin. An opposite dynamic can be observed in most big cities. The greatest changes took place in the following counties: Mysłowice, Rzeszów, Skierniewice, Bia la Podlaska, Garwolin, Pszczyna, Średzko, Tychy, Poznań, Włocławek and Wrocław. 3.2.1.3 The Welfare Index in the context of other economic indices Major factors influencing the income of citizens are: the population’s demographic structure and economic activity as well as the unemployment rate, the activity of new business, the structure of the local economy and, what seems increasingly important, the population’s digital activity. 18 The Institute of Labour and Social Studies defines this level of income per capita or per family member as a level which satisfies the needs necessary to survive and the consumption of which may not be delayed i.e. expenditures on food and household maintenance.
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