The Quality of Life in Polish Local Communities – An Analysis of Selected Units in the Świętokrzyskie Province

Abstract

This paper evaluates the spatial diversity of the quality of life of residents in selected rural-urban and rural communities of the Świętokrzyskie province in 2010 and 2015. The investigation addressed the following five areas of research: material living conditions, economic activity, quality of educational and cultural offerings, quality of general healthcare, and protection of the natural environment. A set of twenty-two diagnostic variables was selected as part of the previously mentioned components. Hellwig's taxonomic method served to measure the quality of life and to order the communities regarding standards of the local populations' quality of life. The results were then subjected to Ward's agglomerative method of grouping, which helped to distinguish similar units. The application of a synthetic measure allowed for an effective measurement of the phenomenon. The analysis helped to identify groups of communities with the highest, high, low, and lowest standards of quality of life.