Most Poles claim that ethical behavior in finance matters in their daily lives, yet in practice, the reality sharply contradicts these declarations. The result is nearly 130 billion PLN in overdue consumer and corporate debt — a figure rooted in widespread acceptance of “clever tricks,” rationalizing rule-breaking, and bending ethical standards.
The new report by BIG InfoMonitor and BIK, “Financial Culture of Poles: Consumer and Business Attitudes in the World of Finance,” sheds light on the behaviors of consumers and entrepreneurs, exposing the scale of ethically questionable actions — from fare-dodging and refusing receipts to business-crippling payment delays.
Key Findings from the Report
- 44% of respondents believe Poles act ethically in financial matters — but only 6% are firmly convinced of this.
- 68% of business representatives think entrepreneurs are honest — yet only 12% believe this strongly.
- Nearly 90% of entrepreneurs agree that financial ethics directly impacts how business is conducted.
- 48% of entrepreneurs identify late invoice payments as the most common business-relationship problem.
- 79% of consumers support introducing financial education in schools (41% strongly).
- Outstanding consumer and business debts total 130 billion PLN.
Strict Toward Others, Lenient Toward Themselves
Experts from BIG InfoMonitor highlight a clear discrepancy between how Poles perceive their own ethical standards versus those of their surroundings. While 85% declare strong attachment to ethics, their assessment of others is far less generous.
“This cognitive dissonance has real market consequences. Small abuses in our own behavior are often seen as proof of resourcefulness, while the same behaviors in others are labeled dishonesty,”
says Paweł Szarkowski, President of BIG InfoMonitor.
Only 32% spontaneously claim they have never been deceived — and when provided with a list of unethical behaviors, this rate drops to 28%, showing how normalized these actions have become.
Declared Ethics vs. Reality
- 51% say financial ethics is very important in their daily life.
- Yet only 44% believe others behave ethically.
- 33% believe Poles do not act ethically in finance.
- 23% have no clear opinion.
“This signals fragile social trust, which directly impacts business and private relationships. The data shows that skepticism is justified, because dishonesty is a common experience,”
notes Dr. Waldemar Rogowski, Chief Analyst at BIK.
46% of respondents have encountered unethical behavior when shopping.
35% experienced unethical actions from acquaintances.
Such experiences lead to long-lasting caution, influencing decisions on contracts, loans, and new partnerships.
Prof. Katarzyna Sekścińska points out three reasons why people “don’t see” unethical behavior:
- Duality of attitudes – different standards for oneself vs. others.
- Normalization – common practices become socially accepted.
- Low perceived consequences – immoral actions seem trivial.
Billions Lost to Unethical Behavior
According to BIG InfoMonitor’s registry and BIK’s credit data, overdue debts of consumers and firms are approaching 130 billion PLN as of September 2025.
- 48% of respondents believe avoiding payment rules has become the norm.
- 36% personally know people who regularly avoid paying on time.
This has massive market consequences: late payments create payment gridlocks, weaken trust, and burden the economy.
“Financial unreliability in Poland has become a systemic problem. The astronomical volume of overdue debts — 65% from consumers — affects roughly 2.8 million businesses and individuals,”
warns Paweł Szarkowski.
Many debt problems originate from psychological mechanisms: avoiding obligations, hoping debts will expire, or assuming lack of enforcement.
Everyday Faces of Unethical Behavior
Among consumers:
- 18% openly admit to fare-dodging in public transport.
- 12% encourage service providers to skip issuing receipts in exchange for a lower price.
- 10% do nothing when given too much change.
In business:
- 48% of companies struggle with late invoice payments.
- 17% report offers of work “off the books.”
- 20% report being asked to pay wages “under the table.”
- 16% of consumers complain about price inflation or incorrect billing by dishonest vendors.
These seemingly minor behaviors collectively create instability and weaken market functioning.
The Real Cost of Being “Clever”
Although 88% of entrepreneurs agree that financial ethics impacts business operations, the research shows that “financial cunning” is widespread — and socially tolerated.
The consequences:
- 44% notice declining social trust.
- 40% feel frustration and injustice.
In business, 75% of entrepreneurs have experienced unethical actions — yet 68% spontaneously claim they haven’t. Another striking ethical blind spot.
Unethical business practices lead to:
- bankruptcies,
- loss of trust,
- stress and burnout,
- burdened courts and debt-collection systems,
- reduced investment and innovation due to low trust.
Prof. Sekścińska adds:
“People justify unethical financial behavior with beliefs about high taxes or misuse of public money. Low detection rates and minimal consequences create a sense of impunity — making unethical actions feel normal.”
Social and Psychological Costs
A culture where rules are treated as optional generates exhaustion: 40% of Poles feel frustration and injustice due to widespread unethical behavior.
Poles define corporate financial ethics primarily through:
- Paying employees on time (58%),
- Paying suppliers on time (46%),
- Settling obligations with the state (39%).
This hierarchy shows how crucial it is to break the chain of payment gridlocks.
How to Break the Cycle?
Poles see hope in:
- financial education for young people — supported by 79% of respondents,
- systemic reforms favored by entrepreneurs: simpler taxes and stronger enforcement against dishonest debtors.
“Combining financial education with systemic reforms and preventive tools — which BIG InfoMonitor and BIK provide — forms the foundation for a more ethical, transparent, and secure financial market,”
concludes Paweł Szarkowski.
Report Availability
Full data, extended analysis, and expert recommendations are included in the full report:
“Financial Culture in Poland. Is Honesty Still Valued? Consumer and Business Attitudes in the World of Finance.”
Available at: https://media.big.pl/publikacje
Sources:
- Consumer financial-culture study conducted for BIG InfoMonitor by Quality Watch (CAWI), sample: 1,090 people, June 2025.
- Business financial-culture study for BIG InfoMonitor by Quality Watch (CAWI), sample: 552 firms, June 2025.
- Data on overdue consumer and business debts from BIG InfoMonitor and BIK, September 2025.
