Today’s quality of life in the Polish countryside is intertwined with residents’ social capital resources. To describe the matter comprehensively and suggest potential trends, the authors examine in four chapters critical socioeconomic issues that have shaped selected dimensions of the rural quality of life in Poland: In addition to the description of Polish rural areas before and after accession to the European Union (1), the level and standards of living in the countryside identified in the study is presented (2). The social capital of the Polish rural population (3) and the changes in the quality of life in the Polish countryside from the perspective as perceived by local leaders are also described in detail (4).

Today’s quality of life in the Polish countryside is intertwined with residents’ social capital resources. To describe the matter comprehensively and suggest potential trends, the authors examine in four chapters critical socioeconomic issues that have shaped selected dimensions of the rural quality of life in Poland: In addition to the description of Polish rural areas before and after accession to the European Union (1), the level and standards of living in the countryside identified in the study is presented (2). The social capital of the Polish rural population (3) and the changes in the quality of life in the Polish countryside from the perspective as perceived by local leaders are also described in detail (4).