An agency perspective of resilience: the case of Pomorskie region

This article starts with a discussion on four metaphors and four research fields of resilience. Special attention has been paid to the evolutionary approach of resilience and the agency perspective within it. Next, the author demonstrated a critical view of the concept including the role of state and social capital. Using a qualitative method of research, key determinants and policies which protected Poland, the only country which was protected in the European Union from recession, were identified. The identified determinants and policies are balance of international trade, weakening of the Polish currency, supporting competitiveness, countercyclical fiscal policy, conservative banking policy and flexible labour policy. The inflow of European funds and a high level of consumption have helped to overcome negative consequences of the crisis as well. The paper then includes a description of the structural aspects of Pomorskie region in Poland. Strategies for small businesses and those implemented on the labour market proved to be effective in short and medium spans. Also, diversification of economy and export, cost competitiveness, availability of patient capital, social capital and the role of human agents were found to be significant to response to the crisis and in the region’s resilience building.