"We will not hesitate to shoot Kaczyński dead" - KOD Facebook page

I don't pretend tobe an economsit, but the Wikipedia entry on the
the programme states:

The Balcerowicz plan in the 90s led to a collapse in domestic demand, flooding the domestic market with imported production, the collapse of zadłużanych financial policy of state enterprises plunged into debt by financial policies and sale of the best of them mainly to Western capital. All that greatly impoverished the majority of Poles and led to the rapid growth of unemployment . But decisive effect of the plan was to privatise of state assets according to the Latin American formula by partitioning enclaves of economic modernity and profitability a dn selling them off foreign corporations for 4.5-5 % of their replacement value.

Temporary hardsjips caused by shock therapy could be justified if it had led to a viable, dynamic national economy. But 26 years on, Poland has not moved beyond the neo-colonial stage of being a cheap manpower source for foreign assembly and exploitative banking and retail activity. And there are domestic and foreign forces that aim to keep it that way.

That article is rather laced with propaganda, to be fair. The Balcerowicz plan was double edged, but you have to remember that in 1990, Poland was still under the massive debts incurred under Communism. The other problem is that those assets were not sold at 4-5% of their value - the number changes according to who you speak to, but it seems that people were valuing them in the pretend PRL exchange rate rather than the real exchange rate.

Some facts :

GDP went from 64.7 billion USD in 1990 to 139.4 billion in 1995. That's a pretty decent gain, especially when the Czech Republic in comparison only managed a 50% increase in GDP and Hungary barely 33%. Only Slovakia managed a similar percentage increase.

You might like this - https://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=ny_gdp_pcap_pp_cd&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=region&idim=country:POL:UKR&ifdim=region&hl=en&dl=en&ind=false - you can play with a lot of economic data here to show how Poland really developed between 1990 and today.

This one is particularly interesting - https://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=ny_gdp_mktp_cd&idim=country:POL:TUR:HUN&hl=en&dl=en#!ctype=l&strail=false&bcs=d&nselm=h&met_y=ny_gnp_mktp_cd&scale_y=lin&ind_y=false&rdim=region&idim=country:POL:UKR&ifdim=region& hl=en_US&dl=en&ind=false - Poland really left Ukraine behind after starting 1990 almost equal.

Everything I've read on the subject says the same thing - that the Balcerowicz plan was solely intended to show that the country was credible. It worked, didn't it?

At what cost? The loss of Poland's industrial base, the country's vassalisation, loss of national self-esteem and dignity and creation of the KOR/PO/SLD/KOD clique serving foreign interests which has helped reduce Poland to neo-coloniał status.

Why are you such a communist obsessed with industrialization? Even the Chinese are starting to ease out of production. Making stuff is not the wave of the future (unless it's making the robots that will be making stuff.... before the robots start making the robots that will be making other stuff.


I know you're addicted to Polish victimology but just who or what is Poland a vassal?


That's sad for you, but why do you assume that everyone else shares your lack of self esteem?


More communist rhetoric. Who is the colonial power? And how are they exploiting Poland and Polish people?

LOL ! Industry is pretty much the real economy, most of the services are either domestic market based such as retail etc. or auxiliary to Industry and/or agriculture. One of main reasons why Gerries have been doing fine recently is that they didn't fall for "industry is shyt" line.

Poland is a vassal of foreign economic interest groups supported by their
KOR/PO/SLD/PETRU/KOD lackeys whose prosperity has been based on collaboration wtih those outside forces. And they aim to keep it that way.

Dignity and self-esteem may be abstract imponderables to the peasant-minded and short-sighted (if you can't eat, drink, wear, drive of f*ck it, it ain't no damn good). But to educated thinking people livng in a country that produces nothing, means nothing, exports apples and migrants and remains a total unknown world-wide is hardly a welcome, future-looking prospect.

That's pretty well the opposite of reality.

US voters may well elect Trump. Hitler came to power democratically. Voters tend to vote for the one who runs the most effective campaign, gives the most convincing speeches and projects the most attractive image. Does that autoamticaklly make such a candidate capable, honest or decent?

Trump + Brexit Britain Boris, what a combination , least seen thatcher and Reagan.

Just need other strong European parties such as PIS to come to the fore, exciting times ahead maybe, get the Popcorn out.

Except PiS have just announced an economic plan that relies on half a trillion złoty of money coming for the EU...

Actually, one valid point. If the UK leaves, the EU would have to redraw the budget for 2014-2020. It's almost certain that Poland would receive significantly less cash than expected as a result, which would almost certainly cause trouble domestically. Hmm...

I'm all for Brexit. Poland will be screwed if the budget is renegotiated, which will remove this government from power faster. Works for me.

" relies on half a trillion złoty of money coming for the EU..." that's exactly why Poland should stay in Europe while the cash flows in.'

Well, I'm reading again that there will be a mid-term budget audit next year, and that the numbers can be adjusted.

Brexit will almost certainly result in Poland receiving considerably less cash than expected.

"Brexit will almost certainly result in Poland receiving considerably less cash than expected." I agree this is the downside. maybe France and Germany will up their contributions to makeup the shortfall.

Shut the whole thing down.


That whole thing... was mainly about quashing the gigantic inflation... which was done by quashing the salaries according to the IMF/WB "model" for developing countries in crisis... pretty much like dropping 10.000 liters of water on a house because there's a smoke in the garage... perhaps even there was no a better solution back then but still, that was not any "masterplan" but something even a fool could do. The best proof is that a "genius" Balcer has never made any career outside of Poland.

Balcer didn't have much to do with "privatization" - most of that happened from mid 90's till early 00's. But he was manufactured into "an economic master mind that saved Polish economy from disaster" and then used to justify that theft - "we need to continue the reforms of mighty Balcerowicz" and then they were showing up this idiot saying stuff like "private sector is more effective" straight out of "ABC of neo-liberalism". It's a similar story like with Wałęsa, make a hero out of nobody and then use his "authority" to cover up your shady deals.