Evaluation of the Changes in the Economy of the Łódź Region by Communes and Counties (Powiats) in the Context of Identifying the Directions Development for the Voivodship Which Will Enhance the Level of Its Innovativeness and Competitiveness

The article presents the results of a research on the changes in the economy of communes and counties (powiats) of the Łódź region. The research aimed at identifying economic processes which positively influence the enhancement of innovativeness of a regional economy and thus its competitiveness. The research aimed primarily at identifying the most dynamically developing cities and areas within the region and specifying what kind of economic activities dominate there as well as at pointing out the most innovative types of economic activity. The research included also identifying the existing clusters, determining their characteristics and evaluating the level of foreign capital involvement in the region