When the Weimar Triangle—a discussion forum involving France, Poland, and Germany—was established about 30 years ago, Poland was considered an economic “dwarf” at the table. Compared to France and Germany, it lacked the economic strength to be an equal partner. However, the situation has changed significantly. While Poland remains the least influential player among the three, it now belongs to the same economic league, even if it holds a lower ranking than Germany and France. The gap has been considerably reduced. Today, Poland is an important economy, with annual exports of goods and services reaching nearly half a trillion dollars. The country ranks around 20th globally in export value, surpassing even the United Kingdom in certain areas.
It is crucial to recognize that Poland’s historical economic underdevelopment compared to Western Europe stems from centuries of history. Since the 15th-16th centuries, Poland has gradually become poorer, a trend worsened by the impact of communism, which further devastated the country. Meanwhile, the West developed at a much faster pace, leaving Poland lagging behind for many years.
“Poland has lost too much time—entire decades—to consider itself an economic powerhouse in Europe today,” said Professor Witold Orłowski, economist at Vistula University and the Warsaw University of Technology, in an interview with eNewsroom.pl. “Although the wealth gap between Poland and Western European countries has significantly narrowed over the last 20 years, we still remain a smaller and less affluent economy. That’s why it is difficult to see Poland as a major power. However, the progress has been remarkable. Never in Polish history has the GDP per capita gap with Western Europe been as small as it is today.”
Poland’s GDP, adjusted for purchasing power parity (PPP)—which accounts for differences in price levels—has increased from approximately 30% of Germany’s level 30 years ago to nearly 70% today. While this indicates that income levels are becoming comparable, closing the wealth gap in terms of national assets and accumulated capital will still take several decades.
“We must appreciate the progress that has been made while acknowledging that Poland still faces many challenges ahead. We are not yet an economic superpower, but we are certainly no longer an insignificant player in the global economy,” concludes Professor Orłowski.
Source: Manager Plus
