Summary:

By using the synthetic index this dossier represents a trial to identify the living standards of populations in agricultural parts of swietokrzyskie voivodeship. The construction of this index is based on surveying elements describing different human needs. The selection of surveying elements was dictated by quite a limited collection of accessable statistics data. However preliminary characteristics (using only a few elements) indicates various differences in living standards of analysed population. Translating this data, the standard of living for human being can be categorised into needs and activities; those needs must be met to a satisfactory level. In the research internal and external factors of living standard are taken into consideration. In the dossier lots of attention is focused on internal factors such as housing, communal and social infrustructure and population problem. The researched area is a part of Malopolska Upland in south-east of Poland. Kielecko-Sandomierska Upland with Swietokrzyskie Mountains (Holy Cross Mountains), Niecka Nidzianska and Przedborska Upland are the three makroregions which are parts of Malopolska Upland. The analysed voivodeship is subdivided into 102 communes (gminy), 13 counties (powiaty) and 1 city county (powiat grodzki). Calculated index of living standards in swietokrzyskie voivodeship comprises between 0.62 to 1.90. The carried out analysis helped to distinguish five groups of communes (gmin) with evidential differences in living standards of its populations. There are successively: 23 and 46 communes (gmin) with the lowest value of the synthetic index. In the whole voievodeship only one commune (gmina) qualifies within the fifth group where the synthetic index is at its highest. The highest index of living standard is mainly concentrated in the communes situated close to the capital of the voivodeship and main counties local government councils. These are the areas of semiurbanization which consists of migration of wealthy citizens from Kielce, who wish to live there. The lowest synthetic index is mainly characteristic to the agricultural communes with underdeveloped services. Indirectly the synthetic index is influenced by position of a commune in relation to the towns and transport links. Very often in those communes the population structure (by sex and age) and the social structure (high level of unemployment) is disturbed. It is important to indicate that the future development of living standards in the agricultural areas of the voivodeship will depend on the strong performance of the local governments and its inhabitants.