Germans envy Poles with “growth mentality”. However, you can easily stumble

Poles owe their unprecedented economic growth and the prosperity of the mentality of growth, which is lacking in Germany, but the political weakness of the Donald Tusk government may negatively affect the continuation of economic growth – warns the German daily “Die Welt”.

On the occasion of the reconstruction of the government, Prime Minister Tusk announced that Poland will advance to the group of 20 largest economies in the world this year, distancing Switzerland – writes the Warsaw correspondent “Die Welt” Philipp Fritz. According to him, the Minister of Finance and Economy Andrzej Domański confirmed this information by saying that in the past 35 years the Polish economy developed at a “fantastic pace”.

Poland may soon enter the elite G20 club, which would improve its international prestige – we read in Die Welt. Fritz noted that Poland's economic success is not noticed by other countries. This is – in his opinion – especially Germany, although Poland as an important trade partner is of great importance for the German economy.

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Fritz reminded that in the 1990s Poland was “overwhelmed by chaos” – citizens suffered from hyperinflation, high unemployment and a decline in GDP. Leszek Balcerowicz's shock therapy has reversed an unfavorable trend by introducing Poland to the growth track. Since 1992, with a short break during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Polish economy is constantly increasing.

“This is the longest growth period of the European country since the end of World War II,” writes Fritz. “Capital accumulation and an increase in prosperity are unprecedented,” added the correspondent “Die Welt”. GDP per capita's head increased in 1990–2023 by 240 percent. “In Europe, Poland is a growth champion and an economic driving force” – we read in the article.

Fritz writes that Poles work more than average in Europe, they are very efficient and perfectly educated, but these are not the only causes of Polish successes. He pointed to the role of European funds and the “growth mentality” distinguishing Poles from the Germans. Referring to the mentality, the correspondent “Die Welt” emphasized that when setting goals, Polish politicians often talk about “catching up” of more wealthier countries.

Recently, Poland surpassed Spain, and in last year Tusk said that in 2029 Poland would be richer than Great Britain.

Growth and consumption are of positive importance in Poland, while in Germany economic growth is criticized – writes Fritz. However, despite numerous problems, the Germans remain the third economy of the world and of course a member of the G20.

According to Fritz, the “political weakness of the Tusk government” is currently talking against admitting Poland to G20. After winning the presidential election of Karol Nawrocki skeptical towards the EU, observers expect an extremely difficult cohabitation of the president with the government. It is expected that Nawrocki will block with a veto of Tusk's reform and paralyze the government's work. The Tusk maneuver in the international arena will be limited – says “Die Welt”.

According to Fritz, the poor economic situation in Germany will adversely affect Poland's economic situation. An obstacle in its further development is also the unresolved crisis of justice and the demographic crisis. For now, no one can question Poland's position as a champion – a German correspondent writes.

Jacek Lepiarz (PAP)

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