In the final part of our series on the country, Poles tell how wages have soared – along with the cost of living

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Over the four decades since regaining its independence from Soviet-dominated rule, Poland has been transformed. Excluding oil-exporting states and financial hubs, incomes have converged with western levels at the fastest rate in the world; from 40% of the EU average in the mid-1990s to 81% last year.

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National income surpassed $1tn (£755bn) last year, ranking Poland among the world’s 20 largest economies. International Monetary Fund projections show income per capita will soon overtake Japan and Spain.

“Four decades ago, we were in – excuse my English – deep, deep shit,” says Marcin Bosacki, the Polish deputy foreign minister.

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Since 2004, the average monthly wage has more than tripled in nominal terms to 8,904 złoty (£1,723) last year. The net monthly salary in Warsaw has risen by 120% since 2016, according to Deutsche Bank, lifting it above Rome and Lisbon. A meal for two in the capital now costs more than in Tokyo and the price of a cappuccino has doubled.

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As part of its growth plans, Poland is pushing to become a regional tech hub, bolstered by a $1bn investment fund backed by public and private capital to support tech startups and AI companies. The number of high-growth firms is rising, including ElevenLabs, an $11bn AI audio generation and voice cloning company named after 11 November – Poland’s national independence day.

There are strong foundations for its ambition. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s annual programme for international student assessment (Pisa) scores ranks Poland equal to the UK among the top countries in Europe and globally for maths, while a greater share of adults have higher education qualifications than in Germany.

On the eastern side of the Vistula River in the gritty and creative working-class district of Praga, the campus of the games company CD Projekt Red shows the progress being made.

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  • tardigradeOPEnglish
    4·
    5 hours ago

    A strong Poland should be reason to celebrate but depending on what political path Poland chooses it could very well break the entire EU.

    Should we stop supporting each other in Europe? Would that help the EU?

    Poland has been part of the Soviet influence region for decades, and the EU is apparently a much bigger success.

    A large part of this success certainly was the support of the EU and other member states. This is part of the EU, and should be part of a democratic society. Many regions - also within countries that were net contributors - benefited from this. If and when Poland fits the criteria, it will become a net contributor, too.