The economy of Poland

This paper presents a survey of the economy of Poland, covering both the pre-reform and developments in 1990-91. The first part of the paper outlines the basic features of the Polish economy, analyses its economic growth and performance in the communist period, and examines the market socialist system that existed in Poland from 1982 to 1989. The second part of the paper analyses the Polish economy in transition: the Balcerowicz Plan, the transition economic system, economic performance in 1990-91, and the challenge of structural adjustment and privatisation. The Polish enterprise sector receives particular attention throughout the paper because of its central role in the transition from socialism.