The paper deals with the issues of economic activity and sources of extra income sought by the population of rural areas of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The first section shows non-agricultural activities undertaken by farmers on their farms. The second part of the paper analyses 332 farms of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship in order to define reasons and socio-economic conditions of the farms which have undertaken the above activity. The study, which is part of the Project ‘Agrinpol’, was based on a survey carried out among the above-mentioned farmers.

Agrarian structure of farms is one of important elements constituting agriculture. Its differentiation in European Union countries is very high. The investigation carried out by chosen taxonomic methods shows that there are seven groups of EU countries with similar agrarian structure of farms. The groups were analysed by statistical comparative methods.

The sources of financing actions enabling gaining alternative incomes by farmers were presented in the paper. Particular attention was paid to financing agrotourism, non-agricultural activity, breeding and direct payments. The analysis of collected material proved significant possibilities of financing agrotourism and non-agricultural activity. Moreover, direct payments enabled to gain alternative incomes by farmers. Financing these actions infl uence multifunctional development of rural areas.

The objective of the paper is to point out possibilities and rural development support through LGD, based on the example of Leader group from Warmia and Mazury voivodeship. Results of documents describing conditions of the Community Support Framework 2007–2010 realization were presented within rural areas development. Moreover, based on the example of local activity group (LAG) from Warmia and Mazury voivodeship plans of funds directed for local strategies development (LSD) realization were presented. It was found that the amount of funds directed for LSD realization is relatively small (symbolic) in comparison to local needs. LAG by active looking for other than PROW finance source realization of LSD can be very important factor of economic and social development of rural areas.

The aim of the study was to show utilization of the EU funds on example of the Sectoral Operational Programme “Restructuring and modernization of food sector and rural development” for 2004–2006 and implementation of projects related to rural tourism in 40 farms of Mazowieckie Voivodeship. Information for the study was provided by the Department of Analysis and Reports of the Agency for Restructuring and Modernization of Agriculture. The vast majority of farms (90%) had an area of agricultural land not exceeding 10 conversion hectares (1/3 of them were farms of less than 5 hectares). About 20% of farms were classified as economically viable group. Investments co-financed by the ARMA concerned mainly building, rebuilding or renovation combined with modernization of existing houses and farm buildings used for agritourism purposes. An average cost of the project amounted to 155,472 PLN, whereas an average amount of funding per farm amounted to 70,609.5 PLN.

In the study there were presented some basic directions of actions taken by entrepreneurs who are shaping their trade offer basing on the market needs. Directions of this modernization are consumers’ oriented, taking into account both: choosing the marketing--mix elements for the fi rst time and adjusting them to the clients’ remarks. In the study there were also presented some barriers that limit possibilities to adjust the offer of the retailers under research.

The aim of this paper is to indicate of the role of land rent in the sustainable development of agriculture. The authors understand sustainability as the implementation of the triad of persecution: the economic, social and environmental. Recognizing that the environmental sustainability in Polish agriculture is relatively achieved, they seek to express the other two equilibrium. It can be concluded, that the social sustainability is to have within when there is the parity charged their own work in relation to other sectors of the national economy. Sustainable economic occurs when the surplus is generated, which allowing to make the expanded reproduction of resources and structures. One makes an attempt to find the most adequate conception of land rent creation at present day, searching for new sources of comparative advantages in the institutional factors. One argues that the institutional rent is the only durable economic rent in the European agricultural sector regarding chosen direction of CAP evolution.

Abstract: The aim of the paper is to assess the use of financial market instruments in the marketing system of corn and mill products. The identifi cation of financial instruments, used both in operational and investment activities as well as in restraining market risk, was based on literature studies and on the fi ndings of the research carried out in 17 mill enterprises. The analysis of balance data enabled defi ning the structure and changes in assets and liabilities. Findings of the research indicated that credits, bank loans and nonbank commercial credits play a special role in operations of mill enterprises. The analysis of capital market in Poland showed that there is a possibility of using, by mill enterprises, financial instruments restraining market risk, especially the risk connected with currency exchange rates and interest rates. Risk of changes in prices of goods in the corn market is mainly restrained by supply forward contracts. In Poland, the market of futures contracts for farm products is not developed yet.

This article presents the results of survey conducted with the use of the method of direct survey on the sample of 1676 people. The aim of the research was the analysis of importance of features influencing the choice of bread. As a result, the segmentation of consumers was conducted, where as the criterion was the importance of product features. On the basis of obtained results it was stated, that the most important features of bread for consumers are: freshness, taste, smell and healthy features, prolonged expiry date, recognition of the kind, nutritional value and the price. Five groups of consumers one may distinguish because of the bread features important to consumers and demographical as well as economical features (Comfortable, Demanding, Frugal, Gourmet, Traditionalists). It was stated that in changing marketing environment of companies and in the reality of competition, there is a possibility of entrance for bread producers or sales specialist with the offer or to undertake activities related to adaptation of the offer to consumers’ demands and expectations.

The paper presents classic, traditional delivery channels and new alternative forms of sale. Analysis of delivery channels participation in contribution assigned to sections I (life insurances) and II (personal and assets insurances) in Poland in years 2002–2008 shows that insurance companies are abandoning traditional delivery channels for bancassurance and direct channels. These are cheaper and more effective forms of reaching customers and they enable a company to keep full control over a channel.

The aim of this paper was to present opinions of 249 institutional clients and 755 individual consumers on factors stimulating interest on the offer of Podkarpacki Bank Spółdzielczy. The research results prove, that in the opinion of both institutional and individual clients the hierarchy of importance of factors confirming professionalism of the studied Institution was diversified. Still, all groups of clients, representing both bank’s as well as competitors’ customers, paid attention to professionalism of service as a very important factor in present realities of Bank’s activity.

The article presents results of the research in relations between Mazovian rural communes’ entrepreneurship indicator and their distance to the main provincial economic centres. Entrepreneurship indicator was presented as a number of registered enterprises for 1000 inhabitants in the production age. For the needs of the research five cities were chosen as a Mazovian main economic centres – Warszawa, Radom, Płock, Ostrołęka and Siedlce. Distances between them and analyzed rural areas were calculated as a shortest road distances. The proposed hypothesis’ verification proved that relation between entrepreneurship indicator’s value at the communes and distance to the main economic centre is statistically significant.

The paper gives both spatial (Kuiavian-Pomeranian and Pomeranian Voivodeships) and time (2002–2008) analyses of the changes in the development of technical and social infrastructure. It also shows the significance of elements of infrastructure for the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas. The studies also included the spatial diversity of entrepreneurship in the individual branches of economic activity. The paper uses the analysis of Pearson’s correlation coefficient as well as taxonomic measurements of development. As the study results show there is a slight dependency (r=0.55) between the development of rural infrastructure and the development of entrepreneurship in rural areas.

The aim of the study is to determine significance of a bank credit in financing farms and to analyze reasons of farmers absence in the credit market. It was found that the use of this form of financing agriculture in Poland compared to other European Union countries is relatively small. This situation is a result of credit constraints of agricultural farms. Moreover, the situation is also an effect of financial market failures, bank offers and activity as well as macroeconomic factors.

The subject of the article was to analyze the EU support of agri-food sector competitiveness in lubelskie province in the years 2002–2006. Nine activities were separated from such programs as SAPARD, SOP Agriculture 2004–2006 and RDP 2004–2006, which both directly and indirectly had a significant influence on the implementation of the strategic goal chosen for the analysis. The entities of agri-food sector and improvement of conditions of keeping business activity in rural areas were supported with the amount of 1 179 240 thousand PLN. Most funds went to farmers (68.7%). Processing industry gained 21.3%, while 10% of the used budget was spent on improving infrastructure in rural areas.

The aim of the research is evaluation of the open-end investment funds that operate at the Polish market in bull and bear markets. The analysis is provided for the rates of return of 18 investment funds, applying: Sharpe index, Treynor ratio, and Jensen index, in the period July, 1, 2005 – July, 31, 2009. Using these ratios we construct aggregated measures, and make a ranking of funds for boom and recession at the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

The global financial crisis substantially hit securitization markets in Europe. Losses on a wide range of securitized assets with the AAA-rating led to a number of writedowns of big financial institutions and to a slump in investor demand. However, securitization still plays a significant role as a source of external financing for banking system in Europe. Many countries have recognized this role of securitization and have identified the reviving of the ABS markets as an important tool for restoring liquidity and stability in the financial system. Germany and Russia are among these countries. The aim of this article is to highlight both countries’ peculiarities in conducting securitized transactions before and during the period of crisis, under different legal and economic frameworks. The analysis shows that securitization was applied in financial systems in Eastern European countries at the early-Two thousand. However, the stage of development of this market and regulation overseeing securitization is much lower than in countries with mature financial systems, like Germany. Russian banks securitized residential mortgages, leasing receivables or credit card, while in Germany banks securitized broad range of assets with a dominance of residential mortgages. In both types of markets important roles fulfill governmental housing agencies, responsible for refinancing residential property loans. The global financial crisis hit both types of markets and shifted investors’ focus on securitization of lower-risk assets, partly guaranteed by the government.

The article discusses the condition of entrepreneurship in Chodzież district. It presents changes that took place in recent years, as well as factors that make the district a place which is enterprises-friendly. Showing the important role of local factors in the entrepreneurship development, the article also identifies the opportunities and threats of business development with the consideration of transactors functioning in rural areas.

The article addresses an issue of creating new policy for mountain areas with special regard to agriculture, which has been the subject of the European Parliament debates. An overview analysis of three documents referring to the problems of farming, particularly to arable farming in mountain areas, was conducted. The basic document for analysis was a Project of the European Parliament resolution concerning the situation and perspectives of agriculture in mountain areas. The other analyzed documents comprised opinions of the Commission for the Regional Development and justification of the project of a resolution, as well as the Project of report on Common Agricultural Policy after 2013. These documents originated on the basis of debates concerning CAP reforms and the extent and methods of supporting agriculture and disadvantaged areas, including mountain areas, in the new economic projection for the years 2013–2020. They pointed to the necessity of retaining direct payments as an important instrument of sustainable use of agricultural land. Financial recompense for the outlays on organic farming and sustained use of permanent grasslands are of particular importance. A necessity of improving current system of assistance for mountain areas and seeking new economic instruments in this area was pointed out.

The article deals with the issue of compensation subvention and its role in equalizing communes’ incomes. Three elements constitute general subvention in Poland, these are: compensation subvention, education subvention, balance subvention. The compensation subvention should allow to equalize the level of incomes generated by all communes in Poland. However, there appear some nuances which cast doubt on subvention’s effectiveness. The first part of the article covers the theoretical aspects of allotting the basic sum of compensatory subvention and changes made through analysed years (2006–2008). The second section, divided into two subsections, describes the income situation in chosen communes before granting a compensation subvention and, later, it shows the change of the income-level, when the subvention is included. The analysis lead to the conclusion that the compensatory sum of the subvention does not compensate the incomes of communes sufficiently.

The paper presents a method of determining a socio-economic development level of territorial entities on the example of urban-rural and communes rural in Warmia and Mazury province. The region is internally diverse regarding socio-economic situation, especially in the case of Olsztyn subregion. The research results show essential role of spatial localization factors, including areas of direct influence of larger cities or access to communication routes (as well as local roads), in socio-economic development of communes.

SMEs are increasingly interested in tools supporting business analytics, including the ability to support of company’s financial policy management. Business Intelligence technology is one of the solutions, that can successfully be used in this area. Ability to integrate the available data, the realization of any financial analysis, automation of financial reporting and interactive visualization the obtained results are an indispensable part of effective company’s financial policy management. In the theoretical part the article focuses on Business Intelligence solutions, and in particular on those aspects of their operation, which support the financial policy management of a company. In the research part of the article is presented a comparative analysis of selected Business Intelligence tools and possibility of their use to support financial analysis and the availability of SME companies. There were selected the tools of: BI market leading suppliers, who have offered software dedicated to SMEs (group I – market leaders BI), vendors modern and innovative solutions appeared on the BI market (group II – BI market visionaries) and suppliers open source BI (group III – OSBI). The products were evaluated in terms of: availability for SME businesses, opportunities for integration with existing IT environment, the scope of support for the company’s financial policy and modernity of solutions. Obtained analyzing results allow to conclude that the selection of the best BI solution, supporting the management’s financial policies for SMEs, must be preceded by careful analysis of needs and capacity of the enterprise with respect to functionality and price of BI systems, available on the market.

Financial needs of farmers are most frequently satisfied by cooperative banks which are called small financial institutions with a special mission. The mission stems from the role the banks have played on the market that is effective satisfying financial needs of local clients. Such an activity is possible only when the bank is close to the needs, can identify them and is inclined to use its resources to satisfy them. The aim of the paper is to determine to what extent cooperative banks operating in the rural area in the proximity of Siedlce satisfy changing financial needs of farmers. The examination was based on mix analysis which was performed to assess bank’s products, their prices, distribution and the staff. All bank activities aiming at satisfying its clients’ needs received positive scores. On a scale of 1 to 5, the highest score was for broadly understood efficiency of banking activity, including efficiency in dealing with clients (4.58 points), information confidentiality (4.57 points), staff competence (4.42 points) and kind service (4.42 points).

The goal of the paper is an identification and characteristics of selected factors determining rural households’ willingness for saving. The source of data used for the analysis and conclusions was information provided by the studies conducted in the Malopolska Region on a group of 554 households situated in rural areas. As results from the investigations, the factors determining the willingness for saving are age, education, the amount and the source of income but also the number of persons per rural household. The most willingly saving group consisted of better educated persons at the age of between 45 and 54, possessing better financial knowledge, drawing income from hired labour and the households where a net income per family member was between 1501 and 3000 PLN. The studies revealed also that rural households accumulate a considerable part of savings (40%) in cash, every third household kept saved means as bank deposits or in saving accounts. Also settlement savings accounts proved a popular form of accumulating savings, whereas, investment funds units, insurance product purchases or stock purchases were of lesser importance.

Public relations is becoming an indispensible element in every organizational unit. The way as well as the scope of use of public relations are different in Polish companies. It is the result of how the company is run and the knowledge of the new trends in public relations. The study is based on the findings of the research carried in 2008 among the management staff in Kolporter Group. The study attempts to indicate public relations tools used by the management staff and to determine the extent of their conscious use by the management staff.

Efficient assistance on the part of local governments in stimulating entrepreneurship may contribute to the economic development of the region, and expenditures from governments’ budgets for supporting business initiatives will be returned in the form of local taxes paid by well functioning local business entities. Actions taken to support their competitiveness are particularly important in the aspect of opening local markets for companies from Europe in the process of integration. The subject of discussion presented in this article is the forms of support provided by local authorities for development of entrepreneurship of the rural area from the region of Podkarpacie, being one of the weakest areas on the economic map of Poland. Survey results confirmed that to a small extent local governments’ actions could be visible in the area of supporting development and stimulating entrepreneurship on the rural areas from the region of Podkarpacie. Vast majority of entrepreneurs said that local governments did not play any role in promoting business undertakings in the region of Podkarpacie.

The evaluation of profitability of weeding methods was performed on the basis of field experiment carried out in 2005–2007 at the Zawady Experimental Station owned by the University of Podlasie. Experimental variants included four weed control methods: mechanical as well as three objects of mechanical-chemical treatments with the use of herbicides Plateen 41.5 WG, Racer 250 EC and Sencor 70 WG. The method based on the standard gross margin (SGM) was used for the economic evaluation of the weed control methods. The aim of the research was the comparison of profitability of various methods of weeding of potato. The value of the obtained potato yield varied from 8288.5 to 14605.0 PLN·ha–1. The standard gross margin ranged from minus 484 PLN for the control treatment to 5851.5 PLN for treatment in which weeds were controlled with a herbicid Sencor 70 WG.