Poland’s economic system in the years 1918-2018 Cover Image

System gospodarczy Polski w latach 1918-2018
Poland’s economic system in the years 1918-2018

Author(s): Stanisław Swadźba
Subject(s): National Economy, Sociology, Economic history, Political history, Social history
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu w Białymstoku
Keywords: Poland’s economic system; comparative economic studies; interwar period; centrally planned economy; systemic transformation

Summary/Abstract: Purpose – The aim of this article is to present the evolution of Poland's economic system over the last hundred years, from regaining the independency in 1918 to the present day, and to try to capture its specific features and show the systemic differences between Poland and other countries. Research methods – Various research methods were used, including: critical analysis of the literature, historical analysis, comparative analysis of the economic systems in Poland in the last one hundred years, as well as the economic system of Poland and other countries during this period. Description of research – The subject of consideration is the economic system in the macro scale (national economic system). In addition, we are interested in the economic system in the narrow sense – the regulatory sphere of the economy. It has a direct impact on the country's economic performance, and thus, on the real sphere. The study focuses on the ownership and the mechanism for coordinating economic decisions (with particular emphasis on the role of the market and the state) as the two main determinants of the economic system. Finding – The last hundred years of Poland were also turbulent in terms of changes in the economic system. Poland has gone through two megasystems: capitalism and socialism. From capitalism to socialism and back to capitalism. During these radical changes we were dealing with the evolution of the economic system, both within the framework of the market economy system and the centrally planned economy system. In addition, the economic system of Poland in particular subperiods had specific features and differed from the economic system of other countries functioning in these two megasystems. This was due to the specific socio-cultural factors in Poland, as well as to the specific historical situation in which our country existed.

  • Issue Year: 95/2019
  • Issue No: 1
  • Page Range: 19-31
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish