MISCELLANEA GEOGRAPHICA – RegIONal StuDIeS ON DeVelOpmeNt Vol. 21 • No. 2 • 2017 • pp. 73-78 • ISSN: 2084-6118 • DOI: 10.1515/mgrsd-2017-0023 Staying on the old development path, but ‘smartly’ – a case study of Warmia and Masuria Abstract Between 1989 and 2014, the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship (one of Wojciech Dziemianowicz the poorest regions in the European Union) was subjected to a number of external stimuli. However, not only has its position in the ranking of provinces failed to improve – it has actually worsened. Despite this, positive adaptive changes have occurred in the region, although they are Department of Local Development and Policy, limited in scope. The attitude of peripheral regions towards external stimuli Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies, can be quite reactive, as seen in the case of Warmia and Masuria. It can University of Warsaw, Poland e-mail: [email protected] be assumed that the province’s smart specialisations (water economics, high-quality food, and wood and furniture) will contribute to further quality in the economic structure of the region, but it will not necessarily improve its position in relation to other regions in Poland. Keywords Regional development • innovation • development path • smart specialisation Received: 29 January 2017 © University of Warsaw – Faculty of Geography and Regional Studies Accepted: 26 May 2017 Introduction The Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship is located in north- per capita relative to the national average (Figure 1). In 1995, eastern Poland. It belongs to the so-called “eastern wall” created Warmia-Masuria’s share of the national GDP was 3.0%, but by by the five NUTS 2 territorial units – the poorest areas of the 2014 it had fallen to 2.7%. The region occupies a fairly stable European Union (most of which are located at the outer borders position, both in terms of global GDP (12th place in the country), of the EU). and GDP per capita (currently in 14th place, although in previous The aim of this article is to answer the question as to whether years it has been as high as 12th). important events over the last 25 years may have affected the It should be noted that, despite its weak position, Warmian- region, and whether changes can be observed that fit into the Masurian province has been experiencing continuous GDP per concept of path-dependent development, and if this is so, how. capita growth, even during and after the economic crisis that hit The article is based on a literature review (including regional many European regions. strategic plans) and statistical analyses, but primarily on nine Based on the above data alone, it can be argued that the in-depth interviews conducted with representatives of the region competitive position of the region has not changed, and using the who are involved in development processes both at the regional measure of GDP per capita (which is coming under increasingly and local level.1 One of the important sources of knowledge that fierce criticism; see, for example,Stiglitz, Sen and Fitoussi 2013), it can enabled the assessment of changes taking place in the region be concluded that the development path is probably the same. was the author’s own experience as a co-creator of the next three development strategies for the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship. The region’s development path and the possibility for During the period 1995–2014 (available comparable data), change Warmia-Masuria was characterized by a continuous increase in Each region can be described in terms of its internal resources, GDP per capita (at current prices) but a decline in value of GDP the processes occurring within the region, and its relationship to its surroundings, as well as the effects that result from these 1 Those with whom in-depth interviews were conducted included representatives of processes. The concept of path-dependent development (well three technology parks from the three main cities of the region, one university, one developed in recent years, see Arthur 1989; Domański 2000; Gwosdz research institute, and local and regional authorities. The structured interview scenario 2004; Martin 2011; Henning, Stam and Wenting 2013; Boschma 2015; Szmigiel- included five key questions concerning: (a) the main factors that have determined the Rawska 2015) focuses on four key concepts: region’s development over the last 15 years; (B) the importance of infrastructure and human capital; (C) the importance of networking and learning; (D) the assessment of – A region’s development path is simply a set of the smart specialization in the region; and (E) the major factors limiting the development of characteristics of the region and the processes that lead to its the region. The author is aware of the limitations of using this method, but information development. The literature highlights a variety of features, derived from this source has been compared to statistical data and analysis of existing which – with reference to the pioneering publication by Arthur materials (mainly regional strategies). 73 MISCELLANEA GEOGRAPHICA – RegIONal StuDIeS ON DeVelOpmeNt Vol. 21 • No. 2 • 2017 • pp. 73-78 • ISSN: 2084-6118 • DOI: 10.1515/mgrsd-2017-0023 35 000 82,0 30 000 80,0 78,0 25 000 76,0 20 000 74,0 15 000 72,0 10 000 70,0 5 000 68,0 0 66,0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 PKB pc (PLN) PKB pc PL = 100 Figure 1. GDP per capita for the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, PLN (left axis), Poland = 100 (right axis) Source: ownSource: elaboration own elaboration based basedon Central on Central Statistical Statistical Office Office (GUS) (GUS) data data (www (www.stat.gov.pl.stat.gov.pl) ) It should be noted that, despite its weak position, Warmian-Masurian province has been (1989) – are often considered through the prism of technology. – Resilience – meaning the ability to accept and respond Thoseexperiencing mentioned include, continuous natural resources,GDP per the capita presence growth, evento external during stimuli. and afterIn the the context economic of economic crisis shock, of companies (both co-operators and competitors, but global Martin (2012) suggests four possible reactions by regions: firmsthat are hit also many very important European (Andrews, regions. Criscuolo and Gal 2015)), “renovation”, “resistance”, “re-orientation” and “recovery”. and institutions – those from the business environment, Regional resilience can be perceived in an evolutionary as well as public institutions (Pylak 2015). Referring to the manner, thus taking into account the adaptation to the new QuadrupleBased onHelix the concept above datainvolving alone, business, it can bescience, argued that conditionsthe competitive of development position (Boschma of the 2015 region). has administrationnot changed, and regionaland using communities the measure (Leydesdorff of GDP2012), per capita (which is coming under increasingly the importance of the quality of the institutions active in the Within the context of these key issues, it is important to regionfierce (Putnam criticism 1993) should; see, befor underlined example, as Stiglitz, well as their Sen andask Fitoussiwhether intelligent2013), it specializationscan be concluded could becomethat the a factor proactive attitude towards addressing regional problems in changing the development path of peripheral regions. The suchdevelopment as public-private path partnerships is probably (Asheim, the same.Moodysson and concept of intelligent specialization assumes an increase in Tödtling 2011). The role of government policies and actions is the competitiveness of companies based on innovation. This also emphasized in the context of innovation opportunities, requires a close and valuable relationship between business and especiallyThe region’s in the early development stages of research path and and development the possibility science, for in changeparticular research and development centers (Foray characterized by high risk (Mazzucato 2016). 2015). In this process, active national and regional policies may – Path-dependenceEach region can– this be phenomenon described inhas terms mostly of beenits internal play an resources, important role, the andprocesses therefore occurringall EU regions within and countries perceived as negative and is associated with blocking a have identified their smart specializations in order to better spend regionthe in region its path, (anArthurd its 1989; relationship Sydow et al. 2012 to). itsMore surroundings recently, public, as fundswell onas increasingthe effects the thatcompetitiveness result from of regions.these attention has been drawn to the fact that this “blocking” canprocesses. also be positive The (forconcept example, of inpath the- dependentdevelopment developmentof The Warmian-Masurian (well develo Voivodeshipped in recent – a peripheralyears, see region new innovative sectors). Analyzes over long time periods The Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship can be characterized as showArthur the changes 1989; that Domański occur in regions 2000; in Gwosdz terms of their2004; follows:Martin 2011; Henning, Stam and Wenting productivity improvement (Le Gallo and Kamarianakis 2011).2 – Poor. In 2014, the GDP of the province for PPS was 48% Path-dependence2013; Boschma is always 2015 ; theSzmigiel result -ofRawska the historical 2015 ) focusofes theon EU’sfour average,key concepts: and during the period 2008–2014 it processes that formed the specific institutional capacity increased by only eight percentage points. of the region, A which in turn enables,