Poverty in Poland

1
Poverty in Poland
The Gdansk Institute for Market Economics

• Irena Wóycicka
• Head of the Social Security Department
• woycicka_at_ibngr.edu.pl
• Policies for achieving the Millennium Development
  Goals in ECE Region
• Reducing extreme income disparities
• UNECE Seminar 2-3 October, Geneva

2
Main socio-economic indicators. Poland.
3
Economic development in Poland
4
Income poverty development in Poland
5
Poverty development in Poland and economic growth.

• In the period of transition the economic growth
  was correlated with the growth of income
  inequalities. Even fast economic growth in years
  1993-1998 was accompanied by the increase of the
  relative poverty.
• In the period of transition the fast economic
  growth has only slightly positive impact of the
  extent of the absolute poverty. During slowdown
  absolute poverty increased.

6
Population at the poverty risk in 2001. Poverty
risk in relation to average poverty risk (legal
poverty line)
7
Net enrolment ratio.
8
Education (cont)

• Significant differences in the quality of
  education
• Differences in access to education (disabled, low
  educated families)
• Low education ratio of adult population.

9
Health
10
Access to basic households amenities
11
CONCLUSIONS

• Economic growth did not limit the income
  inequalities and poverty in Poland
• During the transition period the growing income
  inequalities were combined with substantial
  improvement of health status of population,
  improvement in education and higher standards of
  dwellings
• To reverse the trends in the poverty and
  inequality development is one of the biggest
  challenges for Poland

12
Conclusions (cont)

• Strategic points of the policy
• Reduction of unemployment and increase of
  employment of vulnerable groups as low educated,
  disabled and women
• Better access to education for vulnerable groups
  as well as better quality of education
• Acceleration of the social and economic
  restructuring of rural areas
• Introducing of more effective social policy
  towards multi-children families.