Therefore, the task undertaken by the authors of the Polish Economic Credibility Index (IWE) – turning the soft concept of credibility into concrete economic terms – is extremely important. In short, this report’s methodology is a guide to public policy. Area economy and the countries analyzed show only what is important for the country’s development and entrepreneurship. The 81 highlighted indicators are a ready-made guide for those responsible for our economic policy.

I have good news and bad news

Let’s start with the bad news. The IWE for 2022 is a serious warning light for the Polish nation.

Unfortunately, these figures show a significant worsening of the economic situation in our country. We can take solace in the fact that external factors had a major impact – global inflation and the war in Ukraine, which led to an increase in military spending. But this difficult year has not undone many long-term neglects in other areas.

Let’s take an example, an aspect that is as important as the challenges in the field of decision making law and the justice system. As the author stated, in 2022 we recorded a significant increase in the number of pages of new legal acts. There is also a large number of laws adopted without consultation. Meanwhile, quality laws and partnership dialogue with the business world are needed to build the country’s credibility in the eyes of its citizens.

At the same time, Poland occupies a shameful first place in the region in terms of the duration of court proceedings. This shows that improving the rule of law must focus primarily on the most obvious dimensions. Inhabitant businessman they must finally feel that the justice system is fair, not just in name.

Transparency indicators also look sad public finance. Most of the deficit is hidden outside the budget, and the practice of shifting bonds to specific public institutions creates the impression of a state that is unreliable and uses unclear tricks.

Let’s go one step further – an issue that has been mentioned for years as an obstacle to the Polish economy is the tax system. If it is not transparent, is patched repeatedly, and is often incorrect, then this should immediately be brought to the attention of the authorities. This is clearly demonstrated by Poland’s position in the international tax competitiveness index cited in the report. Our country is clearly lagging behind not world leaders, but even other countries in the region.

If it’s that bad, what’s the good news? There are even two! First of all, Poland’s economic growth is the highest in Europe. Second, these poor index results are a good starting point for improvement in the coming years. Each report page contains simple, ready-to-use solutions that can be improved. So let’s get started!