The role of the business environment in regional development in Poland

In the modern transformation of the socio-economic system, a shaped environment of the economic activity is an important factor of development. The influence of business environment on the development of a region can be analyzed in many ways. Business institutions have an impact on the investment attractiveness of a region, and the level of its competitiveness. By the relation between innovation and industry, they contribute to the development of high technology industries, innovativeness in the region, and also the formation of a knowledge-based economy. These institutions also directly support economic activities in small and medium-size enterprises in particular, providing information, advisory and training (training and consultancy) as well as financial (loan and guarantee funds) support for doing business. Taking an active part in the networks of relations of science and business practices allow the formation of a modern regional economy. The article aims to analyze the level and dynamics of development of the business environment in 2000-2009 in a regional context and the characteristics of the relationship between the level of development of business environment and the level of socio-economic development of regions. This article is an attempt to answer the following questions: (1) what the regional differentiation of business environment development in Poland is, (2) what the dynamics of business development in the regions in 2002-2009 was, and (3) what the relationship between level of development of business environment and regional level of socio-economic development is.