A DIAGNOSIS OF THE LEVEL AND STRUCTURE OF RURAL HOUSEHOLDS’ INCOMES AND EXPENDITURES IN THE CONTEXT OF SUSTAINABLE RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN POLAND

Abstract

Pursuant to the Strategy of Sustainable Developmentof Rural Areas, Agriculture and Fisheries 2012–2020,one of the long-term objectives of main rural developmentmeasures is to improve the standards of living in rural areas.The purpose of the paper is to diagnose the sources of incomeand the levels and structure of consumption expenditure inrural households in the context of sustainable development,living conditions and quality of life. Relevant data was retrievedfrom household budget studies, statistical yearbooksand other works. The study period was 2000–2015. Statistical,descriptive and comparative methods were used in theanalyses. Structure indicators, measures of position, growthrates and variability indexes were presented. According tothe analyses, the rural households’ average monthly disposableincome per capita more than doubled over the 2000–2015period. However, rural incomes continue to be only 50% ofthose earned in large cities. The level of income is determinantfor consumption expenditures. The largest amounts of moneyare spent on food, beverages and housing, as well as on energyand transport, as far as services are concerned.

Keywords

• income
• expenditures
• structur
• level
• household
• rural areas