EN
Paper deals with some theoretical and practical aspects of restructuring and development of rural areas.Authors define some basic ideas regarding planning and management of rural areas. They include: spatial economy, spatial harmony and development; their attributes, criteria and way of measurement their quantitative and qualitative parameters are also proposed on an example of Warmian and Masurian region the north-east region of the country. The theoretical approach was implemented and assessed in relation to average figures concerning the whole country and to the time related changes within 1990-1998. Final conclusions indicate the relative, medium range development of the area under study and also suggest the necessity of further investigations of considered problem.