Assessment of implementing sustainable development concept in regions (nuts 2)regarding social inclusion

The objective of the paper is to assess the situation of Polish regions (NUTS 2) and their progress in sustainable development regarding social inclusion. The study covers the period after Poland’s accession to the European Union (2004-2011). The implementation of ratio analysis and synthetic measure facilitated an evaluation of occurring tendencies. Taxonomic analysis was performed for the years 2006 and 2011. Linear arrangement methods and a common development pattern were applied in constructing the measure. The observed tendencies may be assessed as positive. All regions made progress towards the pattern even though the rate of occurring transformations was diversified. At the same time territorial disparities became smaller. Despite the recorded progress the situation in the country still requires to be improved. Among the most significant challenges encountered by Polish regions there are extensive income distribution inequalities, long-term unemployment, high percentage of population threatened with poverty and low participation of the disabled in the labour market