The most important economic information
The region’s gross domestic product (GDP) amounted to €37.584 bn in 2017, about 8.05% of the national GDP (Eurostat, 2019), which represents a significant increase from €33.943bn in 2016 and 33.972 in 2015. While the GDP per inhabitant (PPS) in 2017 still remained below the national level of 20 900 per inhabitant, it reached 19 100, continuing a steady rise over the recent years. At the same time, the region’s unemployment rate fell from 4.2% in 2017 to 2.9% in 2018, ranking below the national average of 3.9% in 2018 (Eurostat, 2019). Importantly, a decrease in the unemployment rate has been observed since 2013 (Eurostat, 2019).
The real growth rate of regional gross added value (GAV) was 4.8% in 2015 and 3.2% in 2016, with data for other years unavailable (Eurostat, 2019). In 2016, three sectors registered high shares of regional GAV: (1) trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles, transport and storage, accommodation and food service activities, information and communication (NACE G, H, I, J) (30%), other services (28.1%) and industry (23.3%) (Central Statistical Office, 2019). The construction sector’s share in the Małopolskie’s GAV, amounting to 9%, was the highest in Poland. As compared to 2015, the sector’s share in the country’s GAV fell, reaching 7.2% in 2016. Entities engaged in financial, insurance, and real estate activities generated 8.3% of regional GVA. As of June 2019, there were 42,902 commercial companies in the region, including 5,760 with foreign capital participation (Statistical Office in Kraków, 2019). The latter represents a decrease as compared to the data from mid-2018 when 6,472 such companies operated.
Economics in numbers
Economic mechanisms in the region
With a result of 55.4 in 2016, Małopolskie region ranks above the Polish average of 49.7 in terms of the number of active micro, small or medium enterprises per 1000 inhabitants (PARP, 2018). The top three positions in this respect are occupied by Mazowieckie (70.0), Wielkopolskie (59.0) and Zachodniopomorskie (57.8) regions (PARP, 2018).
Despite the growing importance of developing sectors, such as the high-tech and motor industries, the region maintains such traditional sectors as metallurgy, heavy chemicals, mining, metal, tobacco and food industries, which largely continue to constitute its economic base. There is also significant potential for energy technology research and good infrastructure in place for creative industries, Kraków being one of the most important industrial designers’ education centres in Poland (Polish Investment and Trade Agency, 2017). Among the largest companies having production sites in Malopolska, there are BP Polska SE (fuel), Philip Morris International (tobacco), Coca Cola, Grupa Azoty – Tarnów (chemical industry), Synthos SA (chemical industry), Comarch (IT solutions), Can Pack SA (packaging industry), Vistula group (fashion) and Wawel SA (chocolate and sweets). Other well-known enterprises with representations in Małopolskie are: Motorola, MAN, Delphi, Valeo, IBM, Electrolux, Shell and Capgemini.
In 2016, the Małopolskie voivodship was awarded by the EU’s Committee of Regions the title of European Entrepreneurial Region.
