The development of economic activity in the area of Krakow's main square in the interwar period

Abstract

The article is an analysis of the development of economic activity in Krakow’s Main Square during the interwar period, taking into account the broad social and economic context. Special attention is paid to the functional structure of the square, including the commercial and service sectors, along with the catering and financial institutions which played a key role in shaping this economic and social area of the city during the period. The factors determining changes in the distribution of economic activities, such as urbanization, infrastructure modernization and population growth, are discussed. The dynamics of its economic development in the interwar years and its impact on the long-term processes of shaping the spatial structure of the area are analyzed in detail. It is also shown how these changes contributed to the consolidation of certain forms of activity, and at the same time forced the adaptation of the histor- ical space to new economic and social realities. Conclusions arising from the analysis confirm that the transformations taking place had a significant impact on the contemporary picture of economic activity, and the interwar period should be considered one of the key stages in its evolution, the effects of which are visible in the 21st century.