Economy of Poland

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Economy of Poland
Panorama ul. Emilii Plater w Warszawie radek kołakowski.jpg
FB Warszawa panorama.jpg
Currency 1 złoty (PLN) = 100 groszy
Calendar year
Trade organisations
EU, WTO and OECD
Statistics
GDP Increase$1.004 trillion (PPP, 2015)[1]
GDP rank 21st (PPP, 2012)
GDP growth
Increase3.4% (2014)[2]
GDP per capita
Increase$23,649 (PPP, 2014)
$13,648 (nominal, 2014)[1]
GDP by sector
agriculture: 3.5%; industry: 34.2%; services: 62.3% (2012)
line-height:1.1em
0.7% (CPI, 2014)[3]
31.1 (2010)
Labour force
Increase17.92 million (2012)
Labour force by occupation
agriculture: 12.9%; industry: 30.2%; services: 57.0% (2010)
Unemployment 9.7% Decrease by GUS measure, 7.0% Decrease by EUROSTAT measure (Oct. 2015)
Average gross salary
€975.96/$1,320, monthly (2014)[4]
Main industries
machine building, iron and steel, mining coal, chemicals, ship building, food processing, glass
32nd[5]
External
Exports Increase€152.78 billion (2013)
Export goods
machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2011)
Main export partners
 Germany 26.0%
 United Kingdom 7.0%
 Czech Republic 6.5%
 France 6.0%
 Russia 5.2%
 Italy 5.0%
 Netherlands 4.6% (2012 est.)[6]
Imports Increase€155.09 billion (2013)
Import goods
machinery and transport equipment 38.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 21.0%, chemicals 15.0%, minerals, fuels, lubricants and related materials 12.6%, miscellaneous manufactured articles 9.0% (2011)
Main import partners
 Germany 27.3%,
 Russia 12.2%,
 Netherlands 5.9%,
 China 5.4%,
 Italy 5.2%,
 Czech Republic 4.3%,
 France 4.2% (2012 est.)[7]
FDI stock
Decrease$194.9 (31 December 2012 est.)
Decrease$326 billion (20 January 2014)
Public finances
Decrease47.1% of GDP (20 January 2014)
Revenues $89.47 billion (2012 est.)
Expenses $99.54 billion (2012 est.)
Economic aid $137 billion EU structural funds (2007–13)
$142 billion EU structural funds (2014–20)[8]
A (Domestic)
A- (Foreign)
A+ (T&C Assessment)
(Standard & Poor's)[9]
Foreign reserves
US$97.93 billion (31 December 2012 est.)
line-height:1.25em;padding:0.2em;

The Economy of Poland is the largest economy in Central Europe,[11] sixth-largest in the EU[12] and the largest among the ex-communist members of the European Union.[13] Before the late-2000s recession its economy grew a yearly growth rate of over 6.0% .[14]

Poland is ranked 20th worldwide in terms of GDP.[15] The largest component of its economy is the service sector. With the economic reform of 1989 the Polish external debt increased from $42.2 billion in 1989[16] to $365.2 billion in 2014[17]

According to the Central Statistical Office of Poland, in 2010 the Polish economic growth rate was 3.9%, which was one of the best results in Europe. In Q1 2014 its economy grew by 3.4% and is expected to grow by 3.4% in 2014, 3.7% in 2015 and 3.9% in 2016.

History

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Poland has seen the largest increase GDP per capita (more than 100%) both among the former Soviet-bloc countries, and compared to the EU-15 (around 45%).[18] It has had uninterrupted economic growth since 1995, even after the 2007 financial crisis.[18]

Before 1989

This article discusses the economy of the current Poland, post-1989. For historical overview of past Polish economies, see:

1990-2009

The Polish state steadfastly pursued a policy of economic liberalization throughout the 1990s, with positive results for economic growth but negative results for some sectors of the population.[19] The privatization of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms has encouraged the development of the private business sector, which has been the main drive for Poland's economic growth. The agricultural sector remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labor, inefficient small farms, and a lack of investment. Restructuring and privatization of "sensitive sectors" (e.g. coal), has also been slow, but recent foreign investments in energy and steel have begun to turn the tide. Recent reforms in health care, education, the pension system, and state administration have resulted in larger than expected fiscal pressures. Improving this account deficit and tightening monetary policy, with focus on inflation, are priorities for the Polish government. Further progress in public finance depends mainly on the reduction of public sector employment, and an overhaul of the tax code to incorporate farmers, who currently pay significantly lower taxes than other people with similar income levels.

Since the 2009 financial crisis

Since the global recession of 2009, Poland's GDP continued to grow. In 2009, at the high point of the crisis, the GDP for the European Union as a whole dropped by 4.5% while Polish GDP increased by 1.6%.[20] As of November 2013, the size of EU's economy remains below the pre-crisis level, while Poland's economy increased by a cumulative 16%.[20] The major reasons for its success appear to be a large internal market (in terms of population is sixth in EU) and a business friendly political climate. The economic reforms implemented after the fall of communism in the 1990s have also played a role; between 1989 and 2007 Poland's economy grew by 177%, faster than other countries in Eastern and Central Europe, while at the same time millions were left without work.[20]

Another factor which allowed the Polish economy to avoid the financial crisis was its low level of public debt, at about 50% of GDP, below the EU average (around 90%).[20] Strict financial regulation also helped to keep household and corporate debt low. Furthermore, unlike many other European countries, Poland did not implement austerity but rather boosted domestic demand through Keynesian policy of tax cut, and foreign-assistance funded public spending.[20] An additional reason for its success lay in the fact that Poland is outside the Euro zone. The depreciation of the currency, the złoty, increased international competitiveness and boosted the value of Poland's exports (in złotys).[20]

However, the economic fluctuations of the business cycle did have an impact on Poland's unemployment rate, which by early 2013 reached almost 11%. This level was still below European average and has begun falling subsequently.[20] As of February 2014, Poland's unemployment rate stood at 7% according to Eurostat.[21]

Labour market and wages

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

GDP (PPP) of Poland
Unemployment rate in Poland in 1997-2014
Minimum wages in former communist countries in Europe, in Euros per month. Poland, at the far right
Poland Export Treemap by Product (2012) from Harvard Atlas of Economic Complexity
Polish exports in 2006

Unemployment in Poland appeared after the fall of communism, although the economy previously had high levels of hidden unemployment. The unemployment rate then fell to 10% by the late 1990s and then increased again in the first few years of the 21st century, reaching a peak of 20% in 2002. It has since decreased, although unevenly. Since 2008 the unemployment rate in Poland has consistently been below European average.[22]

The rate fell below 8% in 2015,[23] leading to the possibility of a labor deficit.[24]

Foreign trade and FDI

With the collapse of the rouble-based COMECON trading bloc in 1991, Poland reoriented its trade. As early as 1996, 70% of its trade was with EU members. Neighboring Germany is Poland's main trading partner today. Poland joined the European Union in May 2004. Before that, it fostered regional integration and trade through the Central European Free Trade Agreement (CEFTA), which included Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Slovenia.

Poland is a founding member of the World Trade Organization.[25] As a member of the European Union, it applies the common external tariff to goods from other countries including the United States. Major Poland's imports are capital goods needed for industrial retooling and for manufacturing inputs. The country's exports also include machinery, but are highly diversified. The most successful exports are furniture, foods,[26] motor boats, light planes, hardwood products, casual clothing, shoes and cosmetics.[27] Germany is by far the biggest importer of Poland's exports as of 2013.[28] In the agricultural sector, the biggest money-makers abroad include smoked and fresh fish, fine chocolate, and dairy products, meats and specialty breads,[29] with the exchange rate conducive to export growth.[30] Food exports amounted to 62 billion złoty in 2011, increasing by 17% from 2010.[31] Most Polish exports to the U.S. receive tariff benefits under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.

Poland is less dependent on external trade than most other Central and Eastern European countries, but its volume of trade with Europe is still substantial. In 2011 the volume of trade (exports plus imports) with the Euro area as share of GDP was 40%, a doubling from the mid 1990s. 30% of Poland's exports are to Germany and another 30% to the rest of Europe. There has been substantial increase in Poland's exports to Russia.[32] However, in August 2014, exports of fruits and vegetables to Russia fell dramatically following its politically motivated ban by Moscow.[33]

Foreign direct investment (FDI) was at 40% of GDP in 2010, a doubling over the level in 2000. Most FDI into Poland comes from France, Germany and Netherlands. Polish firms in turn have foreign investments primarily in Italy and Luxembourg. Most of the internal FDI is in manufacturing, which makes it susceptible to economic fluctuations in the source countries.[32]

The UAE has become Poland's largest trading partner in the Arab world, Roman Chalaczkiewicz, Polish Ambassador to the UAE, told Gulf News.[34]

Polish law is rather favourable to foreign entrepreneurs. The government offers investors various forms of state aid, such as: CIT tax at the level of 19% and investment incentives in 14 Special Economic Zones (among others: income tax exemption, real estate tax exemption, competitive land prices), several industrial and technology parks, the possibility to benefit from the EU structural funds, brownfield and greenfield locations. According to the National Bank of Poland (NBP) the level of FDI inflow into Poland in 2006 amounted to €13.9 billion.

According to an Ernst & Young report, Poland ranks 7th in the world in terms of investment attractiveness. However, Ernst & Young's 2010 European attractiveness survey reported that Poland saw a 52% decrease in FDI job creation and a 42% decrease in number of FDI projects since 2008.[35] According to the OECD (www.oecd.org) report, in 2004 Poles were one of the hardest working nations in Europe. Yet, the ability to establish and conduct business easily has been cause for economic hardship; the 2010 the World Economic Forum ranked Poland near the bottom of OECD countries in terms of the clarity, efficiency and neutrality of the legal framework used by firms to settle disputes.[36]

Sectors

Primary

Agriculture

Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Agriculture employs 12.7% of the work force but contributes 3.8% to the gross domestic product (GDP), reflecting relatively low productivity. Unlike the industrial sector, Poland's agricultural sector remained largely in private hands during the decades of communist rule. Most of the former state farms are now leased to farmer tenants. Lack of credit is hampering efforts to sell former state farmland. Currently, Poland's 2 million private farms occupy 90% of all farmland and account for roughly the same percentage of total agricultural production. Farms are small—8 hectares on average—and often fragmented. Farms with an area exceeding 15 ha accounted for 9% of the total number of farms but cover 45% of total agricultural area. Over half of all farm households in Poland produce only for their own needs with little, if any, commercial sales.

Poland is a net exporter of processed fruit and vegetables, meat, and dairy products. Processors often rely on imports to supplement domestic supplies of wheat, feed grains, vegetable oil, and protein meals, which are generally insufficient to meet domestic demand. However, Poland is the leading EU producer of potatoes and rye and is one of the world's largest producers of sugar beets and triticale. Poland also is a significant producer of rapeseed, grains, hogs, and cattle. Poland is the largest producer and exporter of apples in the entire world, surpassing China.

Mining

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Historically, mining industry in Poland had been extensive, particularly in Silesia.

Secondary

Production industries

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Industry day in Warsaw.[37]

Before World War II, Poland's industrial base was concentrated in the coal, textile, chemical, machinery, iron, and steel sectors. Today it extends to fertilizers, petrochemicals, machine tools, electrical machinery, electronics, car manufacture and shipbuilding.

Poland's industrial base suffered greatly during World War II, and many resources were directed toward reconstruction. The socialist economic system imposed in the late 1940s created large and unwieldy economic structures[38] operated under a tight central command. In part because of this systemic rigidity, the economy performed poorly even in comparison with other economies in Central Europe.[38]

In 1990, the Mazowiecki government began a comprehensive reform programme to replace the centralised command economy with a market-oriented system. While the results overall have been impressive, many large state-owned industrial enterprises, particularly the rail, mining, steel, and defence sectors, have remained resistant to change and the downsizing required to survive in a market-based economy.[38]

Energy

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Pharmaceutics

The total value of the Polish pharmacy market in 2008 was PLN 24.1bn, 11.5% more than in 2007.[citation needed]

The non-prescription medicines market, which accounts for about one-third of the total market value, was worth PLN 7.5bn in 2008. This value includes drugs and non-drugs such as dietary supplements, cosmetics, dressings, dental materials, diagnostic tests and medical devices. The prescription medicines market was worth PLN 15.8bn.[39]

Tertiary

Financial

The Polish banking sector is regulated by the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (PFSA).

While transforming the country to a market-oriented economy during 1992–97, the government privatized some banks, recapitalized the rest and introduced legal reforms that made the sector competitive. These reforms, and the health and relative stability of the sector, attracted a number of strategic foreign investors. At the beginning of 2009, Poland's banking sector had 51 domestic banks, a network of 578 cooperative banks and 18 branches of foreign-owned banks. In addition, foreign investors had controlling stakes in nearly 40 commercial banks, which made up 68% of the banking capital.[40] Banks in Poland reacted to the financial crisis of 2009 by restraining lending, raising interest rates, and strengthening balance sheets. Subsequently, the sector started lending again, with an increase of more than 4% expected in 2011.

Major Polish companies

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Selection from the list of 500 largest companies in Poland compiled by magazine Polityka.[41]

Currency

<templatestyles src="Module:Hatnote/styles.css"></templatestyles>

Production and sales data

Retail sales in Poland[42]

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Total retail sales (PLN bn) 361.8 376.5 385.3 401.4 433.5 433.3 464.5 515.7 564.7 582.8 593

Investment (gross fixed): 18.4% of GDP (2004 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share:

  • lowest 10%: 3.2%
  • highest 10%: 24.7% (1998)

Distribution of family income – Gini index: 30.6 (2004)

Agriculture – products: potatoes, fruits, vegetables, wheat, poultry, eggs, pork

Industrial production growth rate: 17.8% (2006)

Electricity:

  • production: 150.8 TWh (2004)
  • consumption: 121.3 TWh (2004)
  • exports: 15.2 TWh (2004)
  • imports: 5.0 TWh (2004)

Electricity – production by source:

  • fossil fuel: 95.1%
  • hydro: 4.5%
  • other: 0.4% (2001)
  • nuclear: 0%

Oil:

  • production: 17,180 barrels per day (2,731 m3/d) (2001 est.)
  • consumption: 424,100 barrels per day (67,430 m3/d) (2001 est.)
  • exports: 53,000 barrels per day (8,400 m3/d) (2001)
  • imports: 413,700 barrels per day (65,770 m3/d) (2001)
  • proved reserves: 116,400,000 barrels (18,510,000 m3) (1 January 2002)

Natural gas:

  • production: 5.471 billion m³ (2001 est.)
  • consumption: 13.85 billion m³ (2001 est.)
  • exports: 41 million m³ (2001 est.)
  • imports: 8.782 billion m³ (2001 est.)
  • proved reserves: 154.4 billion m³ (1 January 2002)

Households with access to fixed and mobile telephone access[43]

  • landline telephone – 52% (2009)
  • mobile telephone – 85% (2009)

Broadband penetration rate[43]

  • fixed broadband- 13.5% (2010)
  • mobile broadband- 4.3% (2010)

Individuals using computer and internet[43]

  • computer – 63% (2009)
  • internet – 59% (2009)

Exports – commodities: machinery and transport equipment 37.8%, intermediate manufactured goods 23.7%, miscellaneous manufactured goods 17.1%, food and live animals 7.6% (2003)

Imports – commodities: machinery and transport equipment 38%, intermediate manufactured goods 21%, chemicals 14.8%, minerals, fuels, lubricants, and related materials 9.1% (2003)

Currency exchange rates:

  • Złoty per US dollar – 2.96 (Dec 2010),[44] 2.92 (Sep 2010), 2.94 (Apr 2010), 3.25 (Apr 2009), 2.17 (Apr 2008), 2.51 (Nov 2007), 2.66 (Oct 2006) 3.15 (Jun 2006) 3.7 (2004), 3.8891 (2003), 4.08 (2002), 4.0939 (2001), 4.3461 (2000).
  • Złoty per Euro – 3.96 (Dec 2010),[44] 3.44 (Apr 2008), 3.64 (Nov 2007), 3.96 (Aug 2006), 4.77 (Jun 2004).

Unemployment:

  • July 2008 – 7.3%
  • November 2010 – 11.7%[44]

Average gross monthly pay: 3403.07 PLN (~€830) (~$1202) December 2009

Budget and debt

The public and private debt levels of Poland are below the European average (2015).[18]

Polish state budget expenditure by division (2008):

Division Spending (in mln zl) % of total budget
Total 277,893 100
Compulsory social security 64,050 23
Public debt servicing 25,117 9
Social assistance 18,331 6.6
National defence 13,812 5
Public safety and fire care 12,517 4.5
Higher education 11,091 4
Public administration 10,161 3.7
Administration of justice 9,090 3.3
Health care 6,692 2.4
Education 2,200 0.8
Dwelling economy 1,541 0.6
Culture and national heritage 1,487 0.5
Physical education and sport 0,583 0.2
Other (no specific category) 101,221 36.4
Total income (mln zl) Total expenditure (mln zl) Total Deficit (mln zl)
253,547 277,893 24,346

Source: Concise Statistical Yearbook of Poland (2008/9)

Reserves of foreign exchange & gold: $70.08 billion (2004 est.)

State Treasury Debt – foreign: $55.4 billion (2008 est.)

Current account balance: $−6.7 billion [−1.5% of GDP] (2009 est.)

GDP growth in Poland

Recent GDP growth (comparing to the same quarter of previous year):[45]

Year Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4
2014 3.4% 3.5% 3.3% 3.1%
2013 0.8% 1.2% 1.7% 2.3%
2012 3.6% 2.2% 1.6% 0.8%
2011 4.5% 4.3% 4.2% 4.5%
2010 3.0% 3.5% 4.2% 4.3%
2009 0.8% 1.2% 1.8% 3.3%
2008 6.1% 6.0% 5.0% 3.0%
2007 7.4% 6.5% 6.5% 6.5%
2006 5.4% 6.3% 6.6% 6.6%
2005 2.1% 2.7% 3.7% 4.3%
2004 7.0% 6.1% 4.8% 4.9%
2003 2.2% 3.8% 4.7% 4.7%

Historical annual data[46]

  • Total 1991 −7.0%
  • Total 1992 2.6%
  • Total 1993 3.8%
  • Total 1994 5.2%
  • Total 1995 7.0%
  • Total 1996 6.2%
  • Total 1997 7.1%
  • Total 1998 5.0%
  • Total 1999 4.5%
  • Total 2000 4.3%
  • Total 2001 1.2%
  • Total 2002 1.4%
  • Total 2003 3.9%
  • Total 2004 5.3%
  • Total 2005 3.6%
  • Total 2006 6.2%
  • Total 2007 6.8%
  • Total 2008 5.1%
  • Total 2009 1.7%
  • Total 2010 3.9%
  • Total 2011 4.3%
  • Total 2012 2.0%
  • Total 2013 1.6%

See also

External links

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. (Polish) http://www.stat.gov.pl/cps/rde/xbcr/gus/PUBL_ls_employment_wages_salaries_2010.pdf
  5. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  6. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  7. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  9. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  14. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  15. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  16. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  17. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 [1]
  19. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 20.4 20.5 20.6 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. [2]
  23. [3]
  24. [4]
  25. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  26. PAP, 9 May 2013 Polska żywność - fundament polskiego eksportu - 2012 kolejnym rokiem rekordowego eksportu żywności. Ministerstwo Skarbu Państwa (Internet Archive).
  27. GUS, Najwięksi partnerzy handlowi Polski: kto kupuje nasze produkty? 9 July 2014 (Internet Archive)
  28. Ministerstwo Gospodarki, Polska - kierunki eksportu i najchętniej kupowane produkty z naszego kraju. 8 December 2013 Euro-Dane :: Ekonomia Unii Europejskiej (Internet Archive). Most important importers of Poland's 2012 exports, graph. Manifo.
  29. Patrycja Maciejewicz, Leszek Baj, Polska żywność jedzie w świat. Pełno niespodzianek 2012-04-07, Wyborcza.biz (Internet Archive).
  30. PAP, Więcej niż 80 proc. eksportu żywności z Polski to przetworzone produkty spożywcze 10-10-2014 Portal Spozywczy.pl (Internet Archive).
  31. Wiesław Łopaciuk, Padł rekord wartości eksportu produktów rolno-spożywczych z Polski. Powód: słaby złoty Rzeczpospolita, 27-01-2012 (Internet Archive). "Z analizy "Rzeczpospolitej" wynika, że łączna wartość eksportu produktów rolno-spożywczych Polski mogła w 2011 r. sięgnąć 62 mld zł. W porównaniu z 2010 r. była o niemal 17 proc. wyższa."
  32. 32.0 32.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  33. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/ban-on-food-imports-due/1297280.html
  34. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  35. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  36. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  37. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  38. 38.0 38.1 38.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  39. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  40. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  41. 41.0 41.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  42. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  43. 43.0 43.1 43.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  44. 44.0 44.1 44.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  45. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  46. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.