W numerze [Contents] Mikołaj Lewicki, Mirosław Filiciak: Wynalezienie poszerzonego pola kultury [The Invention of the Enlarged Field of Culture], doi 10.7366/KIR.2017.1.2.01, s. 7–32; Bartłomiej Biga: Alternatywy dla patentu [Alternatives to Patent], doi 10.7366/KIR.2017.1.2.02, s. 33–44; Joanna Sanetra-Szeliga: Kultura jako element składowy jakości życia w mieście [Culture: Quality of Life Component], doi 10.7366/KIR.2017.1.2.03, s. 45–60; Anna Świętochowska: Wartość kultury w perspektywie polityki publicznej [Cultural Value in Public Policy Perspective], doi 10.7366/KIR.2017.1.2.04, s. 61–72; Juliusz Gardawski: Klasy społeczno-ekonomiczne a normatywne wizje gospodarki [Socio-Economic Classes and Normative Visions of the Economy], doi 10.7366/KIR.2017.1.2.05, s. 73–119. Omówienia Krzysztof Dudek: Ekonomiczne wątki polskiej awangardy w stulecie jej powstania. Wybrane zagadnienia, doi 10.7366/KIR.2017.1.2.06, s. 123–128.

EDITORAL REMARK This volume of the Przegląd Socjologiczny builds on the Final Activity Report delivered by the PROFIT project consortium to the European Commission. Articles presented below are based on the results produced by an international research team involved in conducting the project called PROFIT (Policy Responses Overcoming Factors in the Intergenerational Transmission of Inequalities) financed by the European Commission within the 6th Framework Programme(CIT2CT2004-506245). Realization of the project was a common endeavor of researchers from universities and research centres in eight European countries: Bulgaria, Estonia,Finland, Germany, Italy, Lithuania, Poland and the United Kingdom. Institute of Sociology of the University of Łódź served as the project coordinating institution. The project was policy oriented and its aim was producing knowledge to support policy-makers and policy-executives in their obligation to reach Lisbon strategy objectives focused on alleviating of poverty and social exclusion and, thus, counteracting inequality/poverty inheritance. Particular parts and paragraphs of the Volume are composed in a way enabling a Reader to be acquainted with theoretical foundation, objectives, methodology and results of the project. Main findings are presented in both comparative and national perspectives. While paragraphs providing comparisons have been written mainly by scholars working for the University of Łódź, serving as the project coordinating institutions, summaries of research results obtained in particular countries were elaborated by national research teams. PROFIT research team wishes to thank the European Commission for financing the project and subsequent scientific officers: Virginia Vitorino, Myria Vassiliadou and Marc Goffart for their advice and support.

ARTYKUŁY [Articles] Maciej Holko: Kontrowersje wokół teorii rozwoju regionalnego [Controversies regarding the theory of regional development ], doi: 10.7366/1509499536101, s. 5–22; Dominika Wojtowicz, Tomasz Kupiec: Fundusze unijne szansą na wzrost gospodarczy? Studium przypadku województwa lubelskiego [European Union funds, a chance for economic growth? Case study of lubelskie voivodship], doi: 10.7366/1509499536102, s. 23–42; Przemysław Śleszyński: Obszar Metropolitalny Warszawy a rozwój Mazowsza. Wybrane wyniki badań prowadzonych w projekcie „Trendy Rozwojowe Mazowsza” [Warsaw Metropolitan Area and the development of Mazovia. The selected results of the research carried on project “The Development Trends of the Mazovia Region”], doi: 10.7366/1509499536103, s. 43–66; Katarzyna Romańczyk: Instrumenty równoważenia rozwoju Brukseli [The instruments for sustaining Brussels’ development], doi: 10.7366/1509499536104, s. 67–83; Julita Łukomska, Katarzyna Szmigiel-Rawska: Finansowe aspekty współpracy samorządów [Financial aspects of inter-municipal cooperation], doi: 10.7366/1509499536105, s. 84–101; Sławomira Kańduła: Dyskusja na temat zasadności poziomej redystrybucji dochodów między jednostkami samorządu terytorialnego [Discussion on the justification of horizontal redistribution of revenues among local self-government units], doi: 10.7366/1509499536106, s. 102–152. RECENZJE [Book reviews] Wojciech Sońta: Andrzej Majer (2014), Odrodzenie miast, doi: 10.7366/1509499536107, s. 126–130; Call for papers: Regional Studies Association Annual Conference 2016, s. 131–133.

This issue of Sociological Review commemorates the 25th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of The Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989. It should be recalled that the beginnings of children’s studies and the sociology of childhood coincided in time with the introduction of this treaty, which established international standards for children’s protection and development. The Convention aims at safeguarding the youngest society members from different forms of abuse, exploitation and violence, as well as at promoting their rights to a decent standard of living and to broad social participation. The authors of the articles presented herein, representing the current sociological attitude towards children and youth, follow these assumptions. The articles thus mirror some important attributes of contemporary children’s studies – its cognitive multidimensionality, differentiated quantitative and qualitative methodologies, the shift from “research on children” to “research with children”, scholars’ interest in the results of comparative studies (especially the results of natural sciences), and the concern about the practical implementation of research outcomes. The main topics tackled in this collection of texts are children’s poverty and social inequalities rooted in the first phase of their life cycle, suffering and various risks experienced by children and teenagers, framed in both the national and international contexts, as well as children’s quality of life, youngsters’ well-being, youth participation, civic engagement and the new concept of investing in children. Children, considered as equal social actors and citizens – although still most vulnerable to abuse, discrimination and social exclusion – are presented in the framework of their complicated networks of relationships with peers, adults, collectivities and societies, the welfare state, social policy institutions and other organizations, with the notion to important factors decisive for their present life and their future.