The Transition from Socialist to a Market Economy
Privatization: the Point of View of the Polish Society
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University of Silesia in Katowice
Publication date: 2010-06-23
Polish Sociological Review 2010;170(2):233-246
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ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to analyse the process of privatization in Poland.We reflect on the winners
and the losers of transformation processes as such, but also of their particular elements which are directly
connected with privatization. Privatization in Poland started in the 80s. and is still continuing. From the
very beginning privatization was viewed, by liberal governments in Poland, as the key issue in the process of
political system transformation, market reforms and implementing economic freedom. Although 60% of
Polish citizens agree that capitalist economy basing on private entrepreneurship is the best system for our
country, many Polish citizens still represent rather critical approach to market economy because the process
of privatization in Poland has been connected with two negative factors: unemployment and corruption.
Yet Polish people start to accept new reality seeing advantages of capitalist aspects over socialist ones.