Introduction
Poland transited from a communist regime to a democratic free economic state fifteen years back. The current free economic state has brought about rapid growth in the economy which amounted to 6 percent growth and an exceptional contribution to the EU (Fairlamb). The country has started on a growth path after it joined the European Union and currently, according to the author, provides hopes for the EU to provide an exponential growth in industrial export. But the euphoria over the economy is short-lived because of the country’s dual situation as described by the author. The author believes that there are two kinds of forces in place in the country: first is the hardworking, efficient dedicated countrymen who are willing to toll their livelihood and the other are the bureaucratic pro-communist wing which moderates the growth rate. This article is an account of the transition of Poland from the bureaucratic economy to free economy democracy.
Poland after a communist nation
The article throws insights into the movement of Poland from a communist nation with trade barriers and highly restrictive industrial norms had crippled the economy to the point of no return. With the liberation of the political and economic system, the country’s industrial situation improved considerably. There has been considerable growth in the growth rate of the country and its inclusion in the EU had improved its status but there has arisen problems of bureaucracy, old policies, slow decision-making process which has acted as a deterrent factor in the growth process. The article covertly implies that communism has an adverse effect on the economy as well as the social and economic culture of a nation. The author believes that there are traces of communism still existent in the Polish culture and economic society. The country has come out of its communist regime fifteen years back but still carries the communist mindset which breeds bureaucratic, slow-moving decision-making structure which to a great extent cripples the economy. This has been a case in the Polish economy. The author shows that there are still traces of the communist mindset in Poland. That is why the author believes there has been rampant unemployment even with commendable growth. When compared to other east European countries and the countries in the EU it falls in the bottom of the chart. This off course negates the argument that the author implicitly proposes that communist countries are slow in decision-making process. Had this been the case, countries like Hungary and Czech Republic too would have had the same fate as Poland. What is interesting to notice is that even though Poland attracted the maximum amount of FDI in EU, its production was not even 40 percent of the EU average. This shows that even though the country is on the rollercoaster ride of growth, it has a far way to go.
Polish economy
The article is an enlightening piece about the polish economy. Most interesting is the insights that the article throws on the western political views that a transition from communism to democracy was not a bed of roses. Poland had to downgrade its living standard in order to aim for a more western (democratic) way of life. There were indications regarding the country’s current situation which exemplified the abundance of foreign aid and foreign investments in the country. But the growth process gets dampened grossly by the slow policy and decision-making system in the country which is a forerunner of the communist regime.
Eastern European nations have been going through similar phases once they tried to make a transition from communism to merge with the democratic western world. Poland has been doing good for itself with the high inflow of FDI and automobile industry flocking in the country after it had joined the EU. This article also shows the increasing influence EU has on the success factor of the eastern European nations which had started from scratch after leaving their erstwhile communist governments. This article is great when it is seen from the information value it provides. It provides exceeding information regarding the EU and the Polish history along with a few of other European nations. Clearly the article successfully portrays the relationship between EU and Poland and how EU has acted as a catalyst in developing Poland.
Bibliography
Fairlamb, David. “Poland And The EU.” 2004. Business Week. 2008.