Environmental Scan of Markets in Poland

Poland

Political – Republic of Poland

• a republican political system

• a parliamentary democracy - mixed parliamentary and cabinet system

Economic - (2004 Central Statistical Office of Poland) –

• member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (1996)

• European Union member (2004)

• GDP $253 billion,

• GDP growth 5.3%

• GDP per capita $6,600

• Inflation (CPI) 3.5%

• Labor force 31 million (age 15+)

• high unemployment

• an underdeveloped infrastructure

• underdeveloped rural areas

Socio-cultural – 38 million inhabitants, experiencing increase an in immigration, 95% of population Roman Catholic, strong labor union presence, 99.8% literacy, expected duration of education – 16.3 years, enrollment past secondary education 90.9%

Legal & regulatory – Democratization and the formation of independent local governments since the communist era, free trade zones have been established, exemption from income tax to the limit of the investment in the free trade zone, R&D investments in Poland can get 100% subsidies, Polish law does not discriminate between local and foreign ownership but there are restrictions in that at least 50% of the labor force and 50% of the materials will be local, certain