About this episode
The episode explores the reasons behind Poland's booming economy amidst various challenges.
In February, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted a social media video celebrating new figures from the International Monetary Fund suggesting that the average person in Poland now has slightly more spending power than the average person in Spain, the European Union’s fourth largest economy. It’s a symbolic milestone for a country that emerged from communism just over three decades ago and once struggled with hyperinflation and economic upheaval. In 2025, Poland’s economy also passed the trillion-dollar mark, putting it in an elite group of just 20 countries globally. Investment from across the EU has helped drive growth. But can Poland keep its edge as labour shortages grow and the war in neighbouring Ukraine continues to shape the region? This week on The Inquiry, Tanya Beckett asks: Why is Poland’s economy booming? Contributors: Dr Pawel Bukowski, lecturer in economics at University College London and Polish Academy of Sciences, UK Iga Magda, associate professor at the Warsaw School of Economics, Poland Katarzyna Rzentarzewska, chief CEE macro economist at Erste Group Bank AG, Austria Rafal Benecki, chief economist at ING, Poland Presenter: Tanya Beckett Producer: Matt…
People in this episode
Host: Tanya Beckett
Guests: Dr Pawel Bukowski, Iga Magda, Katarzyna Rzentarzewska, Rafal Benecki
Topics covered
- Poland's economy
- economic growth
- EU investment
- labour shortages
- Ukraine war impact
Keywords
- Poland
- economy
- growth
- EU
- labour shortages
- Ukraine
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: International Monetary Fund, University College London, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw School of Economics, Erste Group Bank AG, ING
Places: Poland, Spain, European Union, Ukraine
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