Poland on the Speed and Scope of Transition

Résumé du document

Poland is a country in Central Europe, which has experienced a transition process. After World War II, the country was ruled by the workers' party, an emanation from USSR and communist party. During this period, Poland economy was centrally planned, which means that the Plan Office decided the natures of the goods produced and the quantity which each factory should issue. In the beginning of 1981, martial law was implemented under the leading power, General Jaruzelski, in order to remain with the USSR. During those years, Poland experienced very huge shortage in its economy. These lead to the important macroeconomic unbalance that the country had to face while it began its transition process.

In 1989, after elections and talks, the first non communist government in Eastern Europe was established with Tadeusz Mazowiecki, as the leader. In 1990, Lech Wałęsa became president of the new established Third Polish Republic.

Since 2004, Poland is a part of the European Union. Its GDP for 2007 was $632 billion, which made it ranked at the 22 place in global ranking according to GDP (nominal) and 52 by GDP growth rate .The inhabitants of Poland were about 38 million and the GDP per capita was $16 310 in 2007.

Extraits

[...] Balcerowicz, Understanding Postcommunist Transitions, Journal of Democracy 5 (1994). - H.W. Hoen, Shock versus gradualism in Central Europe reconsidered, Comparative Economic Studies 38 (1996). - G.W. Kołodko, Transition to a Market Economy: Why Gradualism Works and Radicalism Fails?, Original scientific paper (2005). - G.W. Kołodko, The World Economy and Great Post-Communist Change, Nova Science Publishers (2006). - J. Marangos, Modelling the Privatization Process, Oxford Development Studies 32 (2004). [...]

[...] J. Marangos, Modelling the Privatization Process, Oxford Development Studies 32 (2004), p. 585-604. see W. van der Geest, Economic Transition in China a Model for Gradualism?, EIAS, Brussels (2003). G. Roland (2000), p. 343. [...]

[...] The inflation also was reduced but was still huge: from 640% in 1989 to in 1992. We know from basic economic knowledge that inflation limits the purchasing power of people and thus limits their savings. Till now, Poland has a really weak capacity of savings. Inflation also impacts the behaviour of enterprises: if the credit available is of fixed rate, the investments are worthy but at this time in Poland it wasn't so, it impeached investments and made exportations harder. [...]

[...] In the beginning of 1981, martial law was implemented under the leading power, General Jaruzelski, in order to remain with the USSR. During those years, Poland experienced very huge shortage in its economy. These lead to the important macroeconomic unbalance that the country had to face while it began its transition process. In 1989, after elections and talks, the first non communist government in Eastern Europe was established with Tadeusz Mazowiecki, as the leader. In 1990, Lech Wałęsa became president of the new established Third Polish Republic. Since 2004, Poland is a part of the European Union. [...]

[...] To sum up, this means that Poland was really early in thinking about joining the EU and other international organizations. The society was ready for the change because it was expected for a long time. Then, those years of being under socialism weren't long enough to erase the memory of the Second Republic and of its institutions. Poland so had macroeconomics experiences and also strong links with the West because of the geographical location first and because of the emigration to USA. [...]