Poland: Experts discuss youth entrepreneurship and societal challenges

During the EFNI 2026 autumn edition, panelists discussed the economic landscape for Polish youth and the impact of the country's historical transformation. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz highlighted the three paths to capitalism—spontaneous private growth, reprivatization, and the privatization of state enterprises—noting that the latter process remains unfinished. He also questioned the effectiveness of current social spending and emphasized the importance of civil society.

Historian Antoni Dudek noted that while the transformation was a success, young people often encounter online narratives portraying it as a catastrophe. Business leaders, including Katarzyna Michniewska of Eko Cykl, pointed to a lack of psychological flexibility among youth, citing the pressures of the virtual world, including online hate and bullying. Additionally, Marcin Zieliński of FOR reflected on the 1990s, noting the prevalence of black market skills and the difficulties state sectors faced when adapting to a market economy.