Why are Czechs more effective than Poles and Poland?

Poland is responsible for Poland. Before 50 year occupation by Soviet Union, Poland endured 200 year occupation by Germany, Austria, Russia. It has nothing to do with France and England. It has to do with Poland.

Poles need to start taking responsibility for Poland, if they don't history will repeat itself.

How about 300? 400 maybe? Them round numbers look so good :)

Poland dissappeared from the map of Europe for 123 years after the partitions (1795-1918.)
If you love round numbers so much, you should have written 100.

Zeti, I didn't say that Polish cities didn't have any Germanic aspects, they do. I just said that Prague visibly shows it.

- he said that about Poles.

Have you heard about the myth of Achilles and the tortoise?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeno's_paradoxes#Achilles_and_the_tortoise

I prefer facts, so you can can keep the myths to yourself.

It is not closing.The rate depends on the initial GDP per capita difference.If it is increased even at a slower rate in CR the GDPs per capita will never be equalized.

They are both relatively comparable countries, plus the more developed a country is the slower the rate of growth. Ever heard of the economics of scale, or do you subscribe to myths as well?

The gap is closing, simple economics really:)

Exactly.Because the denominator is bigger.The absolute difference counts.So it is the limit.How is supposed Poland to catch ever on with CR?Now CR stands at 26000$/capita(2nd line euro category) and Poland at 18000$/capita which is Mexico category.

Have a look. The gap seems to be widening.

Sorry, but i can't make sense of your babble

Czech GDP: 25,232

Polish GDP: 19,059

Like i said it's a small difference easily bridgeable on the present trend.

But I suppose you prefer myths:)


You should have a look at the latest statistics, the post crisis ones, World Bank:)

Interesting when you start to add countries and compare.

Link to the latest ones.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(PPP)_per_capita

Like i said the gap is closing quite quickly, faster than i initially taught:)

In any case smaller countries tend to have a greater rate.

Gapminder is a good one to get lost in as well
gapminder.org

Your link gives nominal data. In PPP terms gap is narrowing.

As for general question, important factors to notice are:
1. better starting position for Czech economy in 1989 (much smaller debt burden)
2. because of 1. much smaller debt burden relative to GDP now -> more stable currency (that is why I prefer PPP numbers in comparisions)
3. better geographical position (closenest to very rich Bavaria and Austria)
4. historically very good engineering traditions from pre-communist period
5. last but not least Prague as a single most attractive tourist city in CEE. Prague is a gem and Czechs use this advantage well.

But overall, it is better to have richer neighbours, isn't it? ;-)

I recently came across this list of EU countries by GDP (PPP) per capita (an indicator of a country's standard of living) where the Czech Republic scores quite high. It's better off than Portugal, Greece and Malta (on the same level as New Zealand, for instance). Poland lags well behind the Czech Republic, but it's still a good position. I think the fact that the Czech Republic performs better than Poland is mainly historical - Czechoslovakia has always had strong ties with its rich neighbors - Austria and Germany, plus in the interwar period it was the only democracy in Central and Eastern Europe and one of the most prosperous and industrial regions in the world. When the Communists took power in 1948, Czechoslovakia's political, economic and cultural environment was thoroughly Western (unlike other Eastern bloc countries, so the post-1989 transition was just easier I guess.

Luxembourg 80,119 Intl. $
Netherlands 42,183
Austria 41,822
Sweden 40,394
Ireland 39,639
Germany 37,897
Belgium 37,737
Denmark 37,152
Finland 36,236
United Kingdom 36,090
France 35,156
Spain 30,626
Italy 30,462
...................................................
Cyprus 29,074
Slovenia 28,642
Czech Republic 27,062
Greece 26,294
Malta 25,428
Portugal 23,361
Slovakia 23,304
Estonia 20,380
Poland 20,334
..................................................
Hungary 19,591
Lithuania 18,856
Latvia 15,662
Bulgaria 13,597
Romania 12,476

Where is the link ?

Oh, sorry, the source is International Monetary Fund (2010-2011).

Czechs suffered less in WWII and they have a smaller population. Much easier to be "successful". Although I disagree with you.

But it's been almost 70 years since the end of WW2 and +20 since the end of communism. Poland's developement is simply far from being impressive. Without revolutionary changes, things like rapid digitalization, making English the 2nd official language and other ideas on such scale, we will never become a rich country.

Making English the 2nd official language is a hell of an interesting idea - it would almost certainly force other countries to follow, as Poland within a generation would be producing Swedish/Dutch levels of English literacy.

Yeah, so the Anglo-Americans don't have to bother learning a second language... :)

It's already the de facto second language of most of the world anyway.

To be fair, nonetheless, many Anglo Americans and other Anglophones do learn a second or even third, fourth, fifth, etc. language. For example, I know some Spanish (having studied Spanish in high school and college), and some Hebrew and Yiddish (incidentally, I quickly typed "high school" as "high shool" at first).

I like this list also (Human Development Index): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_Human_Development_Index

My parents always told me the Czechs were wiser during the Communism break down. Poles think with their hearts & were always quick to show their cards while the Czechs instead stood behind & waited for the right time.

Poles always joke the Czechs dream of being German

The Czechs were part of Mitteleuropa for almost 1000 years. These connections didn't get lost in 60 years Nazism and Communism. They were the most industrialized country of the KuK empire, and after 1989 there were huge investments by German and Austrian companies again who appreciated the cheap workforce and the fact that administration, laws, rules, business conduct etc. are very much like they know it from home.

Got to the border triangle GER/PL/CZ and you understand the differences between Poles and Czechs... and the similarities between Czechs and Germans.

As well


Yes, and unlike Poland the 1st War front wasn't centered on areas Populated by Czechs. In addition to this by surrendering without firing a shot in the 2nd War, meant that they were comparatively unscathed.

Considering this & the difference in Soviet control, it's really no surprise they were/are better off at this moment

"The Czechoslovak capitulation precipitated an outburst of national indignation. In demonstrations and rallies, Czechs and Slovaks called for a strong military government to defend the integrity of the state. A new cabinet - under General Jan Syrový - was installed, and on 23 September a decree of general mobilization was issued. The Czechoslovak army - modern and possessing an excellent system of frontier fortifications - was prepared to fight. The Soviet Union announced its willingness to come to Czechoslovakia's assistance. Beneš, however, refused to go to war without the support of the Western powers.

On 28 September, Chamberlain appealed to Hitler for a conference. Hitler met the next day, at Munich, with the chiefs of governments of France, Italy and Britain. The Czech government was neither invited nor consulted. On 29 September, the Munich Agreement was signed by Germany, Italy, France, and Britain. The Czechoslovak government capitulated on 30 September and agreed to abide by the agreement."

Of course the Germans had different treatment for us & fellow Polish-Jews

because the czechs are smarter than poland and most other ethnics to manage things. they know exactly what to do with the budget they have. and for the other things they do the same. thanks.

because the czechs are smarter than polishes and most other ethnics to manage things. they know exactly what to do with the budget they have. and for the other things they do the same. thanks

Yeah, I know - although in our school district for example they've scrapped almost every foreign language course. In the past Japanese, German and French were available for example, but now only Spanish (and sometimes Chinese) is left in the public school system.

Point taken.