Economy
Main article: Economy of Poland
Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of liberalising the economy and today stands out as one of the most successful and open examples of transition from communism to a market economy.
GDP growth had been strong and steady from 1993 to 2000 but fell back in 2001 with slowdowns in domestic investment and consumption. Slow progress during 2001 and 2002, combined with other factors, like a peak in the birth rate 20 years ago, has put the economy at the edge of recession, with about 18% unemployment and increasing wealth disparities. The prospect of closer integration with the European Union has put the economy back on track, with growth of 4.5% annually (as of 2003).
The privatisation of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms have allowed for the rapid development of an aggressive private sector, but without any development of consumer rights organisations.
In contrast, from a neoliberal point of view, Poland's large agricultural sector remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labour, inefficient small farms, and a lack of investment. Restructuring and privatisation of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railroads, and energy) has begun. Structural reforms in health care, education, the pension system, and state administration have resulted in larger than expected fiscal pressures. Further progress in public finance depends mainly on privatisation of Poland's remaining state sectors.
The transition has not finished, and public fears remain. Numerous and consistent street protests against the mismanagement and poor transition of the health care and the education systems have taken place. People also fear the possible damage that Polish agriculture may suffer as integration into the European Union proceeds.
The shock therapy policy in economics, advocated and promoted in Poland by, for example, Jeffrey Sachs and the Research Triangle Institute, has proven positive for some people has been positive, while for others it appears as a catastrophe.
The government's determination to enter the EU as soon as possible affected most aspects of its economic policies. Improving Poland's outsized current account deficit and reining in inflation remain priorities. Warsaw leads the region (what region?) in foreign investment and needs a continued large inflow.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Poland
Poland formerly played host to many languages, cultures and religions. However, the outcome of World War II and the following shift westwards to the area between the Curzon line and the Oder-Neisse line gave Poland an appearance of homogeneity. Some 98% of today's population considers itself Polish, though there remain several minorities: Germanss, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Jews and Belarusians.
The Polish, a member of the West branch of the Slavic languages, functions as the official language of Poland. Most Poles (95%) adhere to the Roman Catholic faith, though only 75% count as practising Catholics. The non-Catholic 5% of the population consists mainly of Eastern Orthodox and Protestant religious minorities.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Poland
Other articles related to culture include: