PART I. THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THE POLISH ECONOMY IN 2010-2017 Chapter 1. A Comparative Assessment of Development Trends in the Polish Economy in 2010-2017: Poland and the EU Ryszard Rapacki, Mariusz Próchniak Chapter 2. Convergence of Income Levels Between East- Central and Western Europe Mariusz Próchniak Chapter 3. Income Inequality and Poverty in Poland in 2010-2016 with Particular Focus on Aspects of Urbanization Patrycja Graca-Gelert Chapter 4. The Foreign Trade of Poland and Voivodship Cities: The Competitive Advantages and Balance of Payments in 2010-2017 Mariusz-Jan Radło Chapter 5. Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on the Urbanization Process in Poland. Heterogeneity of Regions Tomasz Marcin Napiórkowski PART II. MAIN COMPETITIVE FACTORS OF POLISH ECONOMY IN THE YEARS 2010-2017 Chapter 6. Directions of Economic Policy and the Most Significant Challenges in 2010-2017 Adam Czerniak, Ryszard Rapacki Chapter 7. Investments and Domestic Savings in Poland in 2010-2017 Piotr Maszczyk Chapter 8. R&D, Innovation and the Competitiveness of the Polish Economy Marzenna Anna Weresa Chapter 9. Changes in Total Factor Productivity Mariusz Próchniak PART III. THE COMPETITIVENESS OF POLISH CITIES Chapter 10. The Competitiveness of Cities: Components, Meaning and Determinants Magdalena Kachniewska, Arkadiusz Michał Kowalski, Ewelina Szczech-Pietkiewicz Chapter 11. Competitiveness and Dynamics of Urban Development in Poland Arkadiusz Michał Kowalski Chapter 12. Financing Urban Development Projects for the Purpose of Increasing Competitiveness Katarzyna Sum Chapter 13. Smart City as a Form of Increasing Competitiveness of Cities Ewelina Szczech-Pietkiewicz Chapter 14. The Role of Urban Spaces in Creating Innovations Marta Mackiewicz Chapter 15. Financing Smart Cities Projects from the European Union Framework Programs FP7 and H2020 Małgorzata Stefania Lewandowska, Tomasz Gołębiowski Chapter 16. Impact of Tourism on Competitiveness and Internationalization of Cities Magdalena Kachniewska Chapter 17. Cultural Diversity of the City: Costs and Benefits. Research Overview Lidia Danik The Competitive Position of the Polish Economy in 2010-2017 with Focus on City Competitiveness Marzenna Anna Weresa, Arkadiusz Michał Kowalski