Economic Transformation and the Future of Capitalism

August 17, 2010

“Economic Transformation and the Future of Capitalism: Lessons Learned from Poland’s Success in Economically Turbulent Times” was sponsored and organized by the CSIS Europe Program, the World Bank, the Institute of International Finance, and the Polish-American Freedom Foundation, in association with the Embassy of the Republic of Poland and held at the World Bank on November 3, 2009. The conference underscored the remarkable success of the Polish economic transition at the end of the Cold War and its resilience over the past 20 years. Many of the participants highlighted the fact that Poland was the only economy in Europe experiencing economic growth in 2009 despite the global financial crisis. Credit for Poland’s economic success today was due to the foresight of Poland’s economic team 20 years ago to put into place sound institutional and policy mechanisms to allow the Polish economy to prosper. Many of the speakers also noted the fact that the Polish experience can be a powerful example for developing countries and provide useful lessons for economies in transition.