Analiza potencjału gospodarczego małych miast położonych w strefie funkcjonalnego wpływu ośrodków metropolitalnych w Polsce

In this article the author analyzes the relationship between the distance from the center of the metropolitan cities and their economic potential. On the one hand the regional spatial distribution was analyzed, on the other hand the attempt to define "channels carrying" capacity of cities to cities in the functional area surrounding metropolitan centers, as well as "internal channels of growth" was made. Moreover, the author tries to answer the question, based on the results of the analysis, whether the small town grows faster thanks to its location in the area of functional impact of metropolitan centers in Poland. On the one hand, it can be assumed that the environment uses the functions and processes of the development of metropolitan center. Environment becomes richer by the presence of a strong metropolitan center in the region. This is due to the fact that cities cooperate with each other without the metropolis area, the environment is under the direct influence of metropolitan centers. Environment benefits from the presence of the metropolis and remains in its natural zone of influence. Range, direction and type of influence is different for each of the cities, but the true is that such a practice may be an interaction. Certainly the immediate environment of metropolis, also known as the metropolitan area has the strongest connection with the metropolitan center. There is also a second force "draining" the potential of the environment to metropolitan center. Both of these forces are present in the geographic space of small towns which are under the influence of the metropolis, so an answer which of these forces is dominant have to be find. Certainly the distribution of these forces is important for small towns in the regional environment of the metropolis. Author of this article will attempt to review if the economic potential of small towns is the influence of the internal forces, or is the result of a specific geographic location.