Concentration of business activity in the member cities of the Polish National Cittaslow Network

The Polish National Cittaslow Network associates small cities which, in line with the slow city concept, strive towards sustainable development and ensurance of proper relations between economic development, care of the natural environment and improved quality of life of the city residents. The development of Polish slow cities should rely on the local, endogenous potential. Thus, an opportunity for every slow city to develop is through the support to local producers and development of local production, and in particular the support of the dominant branches that could allow the city to achieve some specialisation. The aim of this study has been to analyse the concentration of business activity in the member cities of the Polish National Cittaslow Network, and to identify potential areas for specialisation of each city. The study covered 36 cities which belong to the Polish National Cittaslow Network. To evaluate the degree of concentration of the PKD sections (Polish Classification of Business Activities) in this cities, Florence’s location quotient was applied. The value of this index in year 2022 and the dynamics of its change in years 2018–2022 were calculated. The classification of the PKD sections in every city was also performed, thereby distinguishing four clusters. Based on the study, it has been demonstrated which PKD sections corresponded to the highest degree of the concentration of business activities. The sections which can be referred to as the “engines of the local economy” have been identified. Other clusters of the PKD sections have been also distinguished, which have been named as: developing sections, sections losing importance, sections of the marginal importance for the local economy. The study results have a practical dimension as they point to potential directions in the specialisation of the Polish slow cities.