The aim of the study was to show implementation of the measure ‘Creating and development of microenterprises’ in Warmia and Mazury province. Information for the study was provided by regional branch of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture. In Warmia and Mazury province the largest initiative in development of micro-enterprises is characteristic for the inhabitants of districts located in central part of the region. Project costs, planned in the applications, show wide variations, with domination (27.81%) of the applications in which the total estimated cost of planned investments stays in the range of 200 000–299 999 PLN.

This article presents the psychological portrait of investors with particular consideration of the investors’ behaviour and their way of thinking in the condition of global financial crisis. It is shown that the panic and the violent rise in investors’ risk aversion had an essential impact on the scale and range of the financial crisis of 21st century. The author explains also the behavioural aspects of investments and presents that such emotions like fear, panic, euphoria have a tremendous impact on the investor’s decision-making process. In this paper the analysis of the investors’ irrational behaviour and the phenomenon of so called “self-fulfilling prophecy” has been carried out.

The paper presents evaluation of production factors and the efficiency of their use in selected dairy farms in Lubelskie voivodeship. The method, which was used during the research, was based on survey investigation. The analysis showed, that the analysed farms, despite limited investment, were sufficiently equipped. They had at disposal labour and capital resources as main factors of production. There were some differences in efficiency of production factors use in the farms, depending on a region. Farms in Ryki region had better results, regarding a direct surplus per 1 ha UAA and high capital effectiveness.

Development of economic activity in rural areas is one of the main tasks of agricultural advisory centres. They stimulate agricultural development by indicating some local problems and helping with solving them. Agricultural advisors organize and lead trainings, demonstrations, expositions, presentations, etc. that encourage farmers to start their own agritourism activity. Development of this form of tourism mainly depends on local authorities and organizations of the region. The main aim of the research was to present the role of agricultural advisory centres in developing agritourism activity. Moreover, the author tried to find answer for the question: may agriculture advisory centres be able to support non-agricultural activity in rural areas?

The article presents the results of studies conducted in September 2008, concerning the evaluation of the financial support from the EU in the kujawsko-pomorskie province’s according to responding farmers cooperating with county office of ARiMR in the Grudziadz. The study methods were based on a questionnaire specially prepared for the responding farmers. With reliable and accurate estimation of confidence coefficient 0.90 and the maximum measurement error of 6%. The farmers from the poviat of Grudziadz showed a positive attitude towards the financial support from the EU. However the vast majority of the surveyed farmers who use farm with an area over 100 hectares, which are mainly younger and better educated, more perceived benefits of the Polish accession to the EU for their farms than older people, with basic education owners of the smallest farms, with a surface up to 5 ha. A large percentage of surveyed farmers declared that the necessary information’s on EU programs they drew primarily from the professional training of farmers, organized by WODR, the regional branches of ARMA and local municipalities. The greatest interest among the largest farms owners enjoyed such programs as PROW, SPO, also direct payments and retirement among the farmers operating smaller farms. In addition, respondents assessed farmers’ financial support from the EU well enough to realize the planned investment and development communities.

The aim of the work is to analyze the subject, scope and terms of state support for agri-food enterprises in European Union member conditions in the ground of support for enterprises In the frame of different EU schemes, mainly from Programme for Development of Rural Areas 2007–2013. The analyses showed that the subject of the state aid did not change after EU accession noticeably; however, scope of it is many times lower comparing with the first years of preferential credit system operating. Preferential credits are additional measure to support schemes financed from EU funds. In the state aid, the dairy and meat enterprises are preferred.

The article presents entrepreneurship’s condition and directions of development in the region of Local Action Group ‘Flint Circle’. It contains region’s inhabitants opinions about their material status, natural values’ attractiveness and condition of the technical infrastructure. The article also presents current and preferable forms of the economic activities, as well as inhabitants’ will for self-commitment to regional development. The case study is based on secondary data, obtained from Local Action Group ‘Flint Circle’.

The aim of the paper is to analyse and evaluate the role of municipal bonds in financing the local government’s investments. The investigation shows that local governments entities perceived advantages of gaining investment capital in the way of issues of municipal bonds. During 1996–2009 the value of yearly issues was raising gradually with quite high dynamic. It is especially important in the context of chance of realisation of many municipal investments under different EU support schemes. In such cases the financial means are necessary for co-financing of municipal investments.

Investments are a propeller of activity in every company or a farm. Investments decision is a high risk of both small (private) and large farms. Nowadays, facing the implementation of new requirements in agricultural production, it is sometimes necessary to invest a lot of money in the modernization of the farm. In Malopolska province, where research have been conducted, farmers often choose the replacement investments, having the character of productive investments. Due to the specific conditions of production, often resulting in inefficiency and its unavailability, farmers rarely invest in development of their farm. The paper presents brief descriptions of the sample of 849 households, an assessment of investments activities and plans for the future, and also analyze of the source of getting information to farmers in the field of investment possibilities.

The assessment of respondents` knowledge standard about Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as well as extent of social-responsible companies` recognition and social campaigns made by them have been shown in this article. Moreover reasons and types of social-responsible actions took by Avon company have been presented in this paper. In this study primary and secondary sources and subject literature have been analyzed.

The study presents results of the investigation conducted among 28 owners of agrotouristic farms in the ‘Barycz Valley’ Scenic Park. The aim of the article was to present agrotourism as one of the entrepreneurship’s form, which enlarges income level and farms’ resources usage. Results of the investigation show that agrotourism activity generates the additional income in the Lower Silesia region, which is supplementary in agriculture households’ budgets. All analyzed farms were active and their tillage area ranged from 1 to 10 ha.

It has been assumed that the income from a farm depends on the production direction. The income situation of farms has been researched with regards to the direction of the production. Using the data from the European Financial System (FADN) an estimation of the income situation of an average farm in Poland and European Union as well as in specific farm types has been done. For this purpose farms have been divided according to their farming types (TF8). In the paper, the methods of the statistical series have been implemented, the method of the vertical and horizontal analysis. The research confirmed that the profitability of the researched farms depended on the direction of production. The profitability of an average Polish farm calculated on the basis of the gross and net values added calculated per person working full-time, the income from the family agricultural farm per person for unpaid work, was increasing between 2004 and 2007 in all farm types. However, it was far lower then the average in the European Union. The most profitable income situation has been found among these farms which specialized in garden farming, dairy cows and grain-eating farm animals.

There are many factors that support undertaking entrepreneurial actions, for example the activity of various institutions and organizations in rural areas. In the article there has been presented the activity of agronomical advisory centres focusing especially on its educational and dissemination aspect. An attempt has been made to answer a question, how does the activity of the institutions affect shaping the entrepreneurial attitudes of village residents.

The article presents results of the analysis of the number and value of projects carried out by small and medium enterprises under Sectoral Operational Program Increase of Enterprise Competitiveness. The results show that SMEs were active in carrying out analyzed projects both in urban and rural areas. However, SMEs in rural areas realized project only within actions 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 2.4. The number of these projects carried out in urban areas was nearly four times larger than those in rural areas. On the other hand, the projects carried out in rural areas were of a higher average value, which may be a good indication for the future actions aiming at intensification of multifunctional development of rural areas.

The article presents the economic condition of small and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas of Warmia and Mazury, especially regarding their average economic and financial results, as well as the gross profitability of the surveyed firms. Author also identified the statistical relationship between the section of the economy and profits of the surveyed companies. Author used his own studies, covering the period 2005–2007. The analysis shows that the economic condition of small and medium-sized enterprises largely depends on the type of economic activities they carry out and the development opportunities.

The paper presents the scope of place marketing activities undertaken in Polish cities, referring to the example of the city of Olsztyn. It discusses the solutions and tasks related to the creation of city identity and new mental maps of cities and regions. The main goal of a place marketing project implemented in a given area is to develop a sense of community and belonging to a region, as well as social, shared responsibility which is the key factor determining the attractiveness of cities and regions. Following an analysis of the current state and the stage of realization of place marketing activities in the city of Olsztyn, a concept was proposed to use certain local products in order to establish and strengthen bonds with the place of residence and to build an internal identity. Another objective of the study was to stress that large parts of the city potential remain unused, and to identify the actions that should be taken to improve living conditions for the local residents and to attract more tourists.

An entrepreneur and entrepreneurship used to be defined on many ways. The author has defined the entrepreneurship as readiness for changes improving the economic situation. The paper presents results of research conducted within sheep farms in Podlaskie province. The research was carried out in 2003–2004 and 2009. The results of 2003–2004 were a basis for comparison of changes in farmers opinions in first years of the EU integration. Sheep farmers’ readiness for changes (entrepreneurial behaviour) was expressed by possibilities of increasing sheep production profitability. However, a level of entrepreneurship of the sheep farmers was low. Nevertheless, taking over farms by young farmers could result in taking up innovation decisions.

Period 2006-2008 was an important time for the local government in Poland, because it was a time functioning in a changing external conditions. Firstly the types of support addressed to the municipalities under the EU structural policy were changed, moreover the governments need to respond flexibly to the unstable macroeconomic situation. The article presents an assessment of rural communities, made through the prism of their financial standing, because the analysis can get a reliable view of the local communities. There was proved a general trend of improving financial performance of the local government sector, demonstrated in increase in the share of own income and operating surplus in relation to total income. It was also noted some negative implications for the municipalities’ budgets resulting from economic slowdown.

The article estimates the volume of products supply and shows the regional variation of e-commerce addressed to farmers by Allegro.pl auction portal. In order to determine the multi-characteristic similarity between regions of Poland, a multi-dimensional cluster analysis was conducted, grouping the regions according to the amount and the value of products listed in various subcategories. Products in the various subcategories showed significant diversity, depending on the region and regarding assortment’s value and its individual variety as well.

The article refers to features of local authorities connected with communes’ development level. There were formed synthetic index which demonstrates the rate of local development. Taking into account the indices, the local communities were divided into two groups (25% of the least developed and 25% of the most developed). In the next step local government representatives responded questions in a survey, that was carried out in 2007 in those communes. The results concern 117 communes, which make 37,3% of all communes in Mazowieckie Voivodship. The outcomes were similar in both group of communes. Relatively high standard of interpersonal trust was noticed.

The paper makes assessment of farmers-entrepreneur’s efforts to undertake new ventures as a part of implementation of the multifunctional model of agriculture. The research has proved that apart from non-agricultural activities more than half of the farmers-entrepreneur’s have already undertaken other forms of multifunctional activities. Among the most popular are a direct sale of in-farm made products and participation in agricultural programmes in favour of environmental protection. The level of farmers-entrepreneur’s involvement in this range depends on their age and education, the area and economic size of farm, the kind of already run non-agricultural activity and its importance for family’s income as well as the intensity of theirs relations (cooperation) with local institutions.

The aim of the paper was to show funding sources, amount and level of reimbursement of expenses incurred to launch projects related to rural tourism services. The study was conducted among 60 owners of agritourism farms providing their services in Lublin region. Diagnostic survey was used as a method. The studies show that the dominant motive of running agritourism is desire for obtaining an additional income. Owner’s expenses related to the start of this activity cover most of his savings. They are relatively small – at 80% of cases below 20 thousand PLN, but on their reimbursement takes place at least 2–3 years.

The article presents the results of surveys, carried out in September 2009, among randomly selected, 113 entrepreneurs. Documents provided by the commune office and the Internet sources concerning this subject, were analyzed as well. The purpose of this work was to examine the conditions for development of entrepreneurship on the territory of a typical rural commune such as Gostycyn in the Kujawsko-pomorskie Province. The respondents were of the opinion that the influence of their activities on creation of new jobs, boosting local economy and the demand for products and services as well as infrastructure development, was rather insignificant. Competition on the local market was rated as average. More than half of the respondents confirmed cooperation with other companies. They also indicated difficulties in running a business, including: bureaucracy, taxes and bills, competition, maintenance of financial availability and poor customer’s demand. Barriers disrupting development of entrepreneurship which were most frequently mentioned included: difficulties in obtaining low interest credits, high taxes, high delivery costs and dispersion of customers. Location near the commune main road was indicated by most interviewers as providing a good chance for development of entrepreneurship. A considerable group of the surveyed entrepreneurs noticed improvement in conditions for running a business in the area of Gostycyn commune after Poland’s accession to the structures of the European Union, in 2004. Since then, the number of respondents taking advantage of the support provided by the Union, has increased significantly.