what about ireland then?this country became rich because of the eu help but ALSO because its own people coming back from overseas and investing their own money in bussines in ire.prices of houses,flats are rising very quickly in poland because a lot of foreigners investing in our country (especially in big cities)in small towns and rural areas prices rise slowly or remain at the same level
If I may add guys, living in Ireland, I feel I can clarify a few points for contributors.
The Irish question/situation is quite a complex one and probably unique within the western world. It joined EU in 1973 same time as UK, ok, got grants /aid etc, not a lot of improvement for say...10-15 yrs. then someone got the idea of luring big multi-nationals to the country to set up factories...esp the US..huge money poured in ( on top of EU grants), low corporation taxes...and most importantly....spoke English!!!!
Following so far? This then takes us up to the early nineties still things difficult, unemployment high..........still 12/13 percent ( had been 20% like Poland). The Irish had a habit of sending huge amounts of profit/money to off shore accounts, hiding it not paying tax on it...then the Goverment caught on, no longer acceptable to do so , court cases, fines so money began to stay in the country....jobs began to get better paid, people stopped leaving, people came back....houses got dear............Celtic tiger began to roar....louder and louder............profits began to flow...government got huge tax revenue, still getting aid from EU ( its running out shortly!!!)
Could this continue....?.....GDP going up by 10/12 per cent...no they all said......but the main driver in the last 5/6 years has been the building boom........its still going on...not sure when it will stop...ok.....growth now at 5/6 per cent but that is still double the average!!!
In just ten years.....1/3 of all house have been built.........in the Republic.......which is ten times the number in the UK!!!!!!!! Ths has been the main driver for wealth creation since the mid-nineties!
Amongst all this has been the Irish attitude towards risk/taking a chance......something Polish people perhaps need to change in their countries mentality............first steps have been taken.........joined EU...grants coming in....people going over seas to work....now its up to goverenment/leaders to spark the best ever phase in the life of all Polish people......it requires bravery/vision.....taking risks.....can Poland do it?