QUALITY OF LIFE IN POLISH-GERMAN BORDER SURVEY RESULTS

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1 QUALITY OF LIFE IN POLISH-GERMAN BORDER SURVEY RESULTS Bartosz Bartniczak ADMISSION Quality of life as a category of complex, multi-faceted subject of research of many scientific disciplines. The very concept of quality of life and attempts of their quantify are different depending on the research methods and measurement tools relevant to the discipline. Despite ongoing since the eighties of the twentieth century, the growing interest in the concept of quality life there is still lack of definition, which would be "no reservations "without regard to differences interdisciplinary. There is so much "quality life, "which are interpreted differently by psychologists, sociologists, educators and representatives medical science [4]. The term quality of life is also one of those scientific structures that are difficult to define and agree on a common position on how to understand them because to their high generality [5]. Quality of life as a primary objective of the concept of sustainable development by T. Borys is understood as a balanced appreciation and perception of the wealth of the global quality of life and existence in human well-being (quality characteristics of "have") and welfare (quality characteristics of "to be") [Borys, 2005]. The category of quality of life are related to the concept of derivative of an evaluation that is objective and subjective quality of life or, as the T. Borys, objectification and subjectivations quality of life assessments [2]. Quality of life should be a primary goal for all human activities. It should be analyzed at all levels of management. A very important issue is to compare the quality of life in different areas. Differences in quality of life may lead to desire a change of residence by the locals. They can also cause the flow between the areas in which there are differences in the quality of life. A particular area where such phenomena may occur is the border region. Differences in quality of life can cause that people will move across the border to seek a better job, make purchases, use of health services, cultural institutions, etc. It is therefore important issue to determine the quality of life in the border area and to indicate how these differences may influence the formation of cross-border flows. Such research are carried out jointly by the Department of Quality and Environmental Management Wrocław University of Economics and Governance Planning Department of the Technical University of Dresden in the project Quality of life in the cross-border area - the strengthening of cross-border flows for the common sustainable development and regional planning. This project is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund under the Operational Programme Poland-Saxony In the project in relation to quality of life were under review two hypotheses: 1. the integration process of Polish-Saxon border improves the quality of life in this area and to increase cross-border flows, 2. there is lack of comprehensive research on the quality of life and cross-border flows. The project will be implemented in two stages. In the first stage will be research the quality of life in the district of Zgorzelec and Görlitz. In the second stage will research the cross-border flows. Conduct research on these levels will get the answer to the question: How do the differences in quality of life influence the formation of cross-border flows? In this article we will present the results of research subjective quality of life of people living in the district of Zgorzelec and Görlitz. Quality of life surveys were conducted in two neighboring districts for a representative group of people. The sample was representative because of three criteria: age, place of residence (urban and rural) and gender. Were conducted 867 surveys. 1 STUDY SUBJECTIVE QUALITY OF LIFE The quality of life in terms of subjectively is determined by the satisfaction which people draw from your own life and its conditions. Please bear in mind that the relationship of this category of quality objective is not clearly defined. The subjective feeling of satisfaction with the objective conditions of life also depends on the complexity of the quality of life, so-called relative sense of victimization and value system [2].

2 The division into objective and subjective quality of life is one of the seven proposed by T. Borys categorization [Borys, 2008]. It is also important division for the study of quality of life in the Saxon- Polish border area. In a study of quality of life, it is important to quantify both because of its dimensions - objectively assessed on the basis of the ratios calculated mainly based on data from official statistics and sources described by subjective indicators from population surveys. Since none of these collections is not sufficiently accurate and honest to yourself in an exhaustive assess quality of life, in practice, conducting this type of research both sets should be considered as complementary. Only then, through mutual complementarity and correct some information coming from both the analysis of indicator, you can get reliable information on the quality of life. The main objective, carried out the survey as part of the project, was to collate and compare the opinions of local Saxon-Polish border area on the subjective quality of life. The feature that distinguishes this study from other similar research at local and regional level is to try to find an answer to the question about the impact of the border between individual quality of life of the residents of these areas. According to the intention of the authors of the study results: should reveal the differences and / or similarities in the subjective assessment of the quality of life for residents on the Polish and German of the border area, take into account the specificity of the location of these border regions, should also have a practical dimension, ie can be used by local and regional authorities such as the planning stage of development of the entity (eg by listening to people in the process of developing or updating strategy). Measuring the quality of life, both in terms of objective and subjective, requires include identify areas (fields) that describe the quality and to be tested. As part of this project assumes a high compatibility with both sets of indicators - subjective and objective. It was decided that, where possible subjective indicators should relate to the same areas of quality of life, which were chosen for the collection of objective indicators. The selection of these areas was dictated by such availability of statistical data and covers the main areas of government activity. These are: health care, education, public safety and social safety, culture and sport, financial situation and professional, access to services, natural environment, transport accessibility, civil society. The questionnaire was divided into two main parts. The first one included questions concerning the position of the cross-border impact on the quality of life of its inhabitants. The second included questions relating to specific areas of quality of life. For general questions in the second part of the questionnaire and questions on the impact of proximity to the border on the quality of life, with the exception of open-ended questions, provided a 6- point scale of measurement (from the category of "very negative" or "very dissatisfied" to "very positive" or "very satisfied"). For detailed questions specific approach was applied mainly known of market research, including surveys of customer satisfaction, including an evaluation and assessment of the validity of each of the aspects distinguished in the fields of quality of life. This approach can include identify those areas that are most important to the respondents, while the lowest evaluated by them. Both evaluations are performed on a 5-point scale of measurement. When assessing the validity of this scale includes categories from "not important" to "very important." State assessment can be made using the category of "very poor" to "very good". 2 THE OVERALL RESULTS The survey examined the various aspects that affect the quality of life. Due to the nature of the study area - the border area one of the first questions concerned how the existence of the border affects the quality of life. The largest portion of polish respondents replied that the border positively affect their quality of life (figure 1). At the same time more than 41 % indicated that they do not affect in any way. Nearly 39 % of German respondents indicated that the border does not affect the quality of life, and 34 % that it has a positive effect. Poles pointed out that the positive impact of the border reveals the possibility to work in Germany, the use of the sports and recreation and culture

3 infrastructure, the ability to make purchases and to learn the language. Residents of Germany, however, pointed on the possibility of making of cheaper purchasing and using of the cheaper of services. A large proportion of respondents also indicated that the positive effect due to its ability to Polish arrival for tourism and recreation. More than a fifth of German respondents pointed to the negative impact of the border. The same opinion was expressed less than 5 % of Polish respondents. Polish respondents pointed out that the proximity of the border contributed to the increase in prices of goods and services in Poland and the German pointed to the rise in crime mostly amounts thefts and burglaries which resulted in a significant reduction of security. Fig. 1: Sample description of the figure Both among Polish and German respondents are dominated people who are satisfied with their lives (figure 2). To varying degrees dissatisfied was 10.8 % of Polish respondents and 4.6 % of German. Fig. 2: Rate of satisfaction with their lives Nearly half of German respondents indicated that the quality of life in their neighborhood does not change (figure 3). Nearly one third indicated that it is getting worse, and more than one in five respondents indicated that improving. Over 40 % of Polish respondents indicated improvement of quality of live, over 38 % stated that it does not change, and nearly one in five pointed to the deterioration.

4 Fig. 3: Rate changes in the quality of life in the neighborhood Respondents were also asked to assess the quality of life on the other side of the border (figure 4). Analysis of the responses received clearly indicates that the respondents felt that better the quality of life is in Germany. Nearly 63 % of Poles said that the quality of life in Germany is better, and more than 73 % of Germans that Poland's quality of life is worse. Noteworthy is the fact that nearly 36% Polish respondents said that the quality of life on the other side of the border is similar, and the same opinion was expressed by nearly 23 % of Germans surveyed. Fig. 4: Quality of life on the other side of the border

5 3 RATING SATISFACTION WITH HEALTH, FINANCIAL SITUATION AND Residents of both polish and German part of the border gave a positive response in the event of questions to assess satisfaction with their health (figure 5). But by far the more satisfied they are citizens of Germany. Every second German respondent is satisfied with their health. The same answer was given by less than a third of polish respondents. To a lesser or greater extent, was dissatisfied 16,1 % of polish respondents and 14,5 % German respondents. Fig. 5: Rate of satisfaction with your health Respondents were also asked to evaluate on a scale of 1 to 5 the validity and condition of the four factors influencing satisfaction with health. They were: access to primary care doctors, access to specialist doctors, operation of emergency medical services and access to pharmaceries. For residents of polish major was the operation of emergency medical services, which was assessed at 4.6. Access to primary care doctors were assessed at 4.5. Other aspects were rated at 4.4 (figure 6). Much worse condition has been assessed. The highest mean score of 4.2 received access to pharmacies. The 3.6 was assessed the operation of emergency medical services. The resulting assessment showed that the biggest problem for respondents is access to doctors. Access to primary care doctors was evaluated on 3.3 and access to specialists doctors on 2.6. German respondents surveyed evaluated aspects as less important than polish. Operating of emergency medical services was assessed at 3.6. Access to primary care doctors and specialists and operation of emergency medical services was assessed at 3.4, and access to pharmacies in 3.2. For assessment of the condition the best was assessment access to pharmacies - average 4.1 and the worst access to specialists doctors. Fig. 6: Average ratings for different aspects of the assessment of health care Quite significant differences can be observed in the assessment of satisfaction with financial situation and employment (figure 7). More than half of German respondents were in fact satisfied with

6 their financial situation and professional, and only less than less than a quarter of polish respondents. To a lesser or greater extent, was dissatisfied more than 31% of polish respondents and nearly19% in Germany. Fig. 7: Satisfaction rating from financial situation and employment As the aspects that affect the financial situation and the professional are indicated: personal financial situation, current work, job security, chances of finding new attractive work, maintain an appropriate balance between work time and leisure time and housing condition. Polish respondents assessed the validity of various aspects average from 4.3 to 4.6. (figure 8). Larger differences can be seen in the response of German respondents. The average assessment rate of 3.6 received housing conditions, and the average 3.5 personal financial situation. The lowest rated the possibility of chance of finding new attractive job. In the case of assessment conditions for polish respondents the most important were current work and housing conditions. By far the worst rated the chances of finding new attractive job. German respondents by far the highest rated the housing conditions, and the worst as well as the polish respondents possibility of finding new attractive job. Fig. 8: Average ratings for different aspects of the assessment of the financial situation and employment CONCLUSION Quality of life is a phenomenon that should be monitored on every area and at every level of management. However, a very important aspect is to monitor the quality of life in border areas, as it can affect the formation of different types of flows of people, goods and services.

7 The study showed significant differences in quality of life on both sides of the border. They also showed that respondents different evaluated state and the importance of various aspects which affecting the quality of life. BIBLIOGRAPHY [1] BORYS T., Wskaźniki zrównoważonego rozwoju, Ekonomia i Środowisko, Warszawa-Białystok, [2] BORYS T., Jakość, jakość życia oraz pojęcia i relacje pochodne, [in:] Metodologia pomiaru jakości życia, ed. W. Ostasiewicz, AE we Wrocławiu, Wrocław, 2002 [3] BORYS T. KNIPPSCHILD R., Jakość życia w obszarze przygranicznym wzmocnienie ponadgranicznych przepływów dla wspólnego zrównoważonego rozwoju i planowania regionalnego,adrem, Jelenia Góra, ISBN: [4] TRZEBIATOWSKI J., Jakość życia w perspektywie nauk społecznych i medycznych systematyzacja ujęć definicyjnych, Hygeia Health 2011, 46 (1). [5] WNUK M., MARCINKOWSKI J., Jakość życia jako pojęcie pluralistyczne o charakterze interdyscyplinarnym, Problemy Higieny Epidemiologicznej 2012, 93 (1) Author s address: Bartosz Bartniczak PhD. Wrocław University of Economics, Faculty of Economy, Management and Tourism, Department Quality and Enviroment Management bartosz.bartniczak@ue.wroc.pl QUALITY OF LIFE IN POLISH-GERMAN BORDER SURVEY RESULTS Abstract The paper presents the selected results of a study on subjective quality of life conducted in the district Goerlitz and Zgorzelec. The research was carried out within the project Quality of life in the border area - the strengthening of cross-border flows for the common sustainable development and regional planning financed by the European Union under the OP Poland - Saxony The paper presents the overall results of the subjective quality of life, as well as specific results for health and financial situation and employment. Key words Polish-Garman borderland, quality of life JEL Classification Q01