Marian Gorynia: Why are we organizing the Congress of Polish Economists?

The organization of the 11th Congress of Polish Economists results from deeply rooted tradition, the responsibility of the scientific community and the need to participate in shaping the economic future of Poland. The Congress is not only a continuation of the long-standing heritage of Polish economic thought, but also an expression of our belief that knowledge, conducting debate and consciously made decisions can contribute to the sustainable economic and social development of the country. Here are the most important reasons why we decided to organize the 11th edition of this unique event.

1. Because that's the tradition

The Congress of Polish Economists is an event with a history of over a hundred years. The first congress was held in 1887 in Lviv, subsequent ones – at the most important moments in Poland's history. For decades, these congresses have served as a forum for the exchange of ideas, where the state of the economy was diagnosed and directions of development were set. Maintaining this tradition has symbolic and substantive value for us. By organizing the 11th Congress, we maintain the continuity of this tradition, contributing to the cultivation of the intellectual achievements of Polish economists, who have influenced the shape of our country's economic policy over the years.

2. Because we want to inspire and develop debate on the most important economic issues

The modern world poses many challenges to national economies – from climate change, through energy transformation, to the effects of the digital revolution and post-pandemic macroeconomic tensions. The Congress is a space where these topics can be analyzed, critically reflected on, and confronted with various theoretical and practical approaches. We want to inspire the academic community, decision-makers, entrepreneurs, and citizens to jointly reflect on the directions of economic development in Poland, Europe, and the world.

3. Because we want to raise the level of education and economic awareness of society

The economy affects every citizen – from consumer decisions, through professional work, to political choices. That is why it is so important for society to understand basic economic mechanisms and be able to assess the consequences of various economic decisions. The Congress is an opportunity to conduct dialogue not only among experts, but also with the general public. We are particularly interested in better explaining what determines the level of prosperity of society and the material well-being of citizens. We want to show how the market economy functions, what efficient resource management is and what factors determine the growth of productivity, investment and employment.

4. Because we want to support rational decisions – in society, business and the state

Economic knowledge is practical in nature – it allows for making better decisions, both at the individual and institutional level. By participating in the congress, citizens, entrepreneurs and public administration decision-makers gain access to analytical tools and examples of good practices that allow for better use of available resources – time, capital, competences, infrastructure. One of the foundations of development is to make everyone aware of how to increase the efficiency and rationality of management.

5. Because we want to inspire the multiplication of the well-being of society

The prosperity of a society is not given once and for all – it requires care, investment, innovation and appropriate political decisions. The Congress is a place where we want to indicate which conditions are conducive to multiplying the resources of society and which ones hinder development. We want to inspire actions for the long-term increase in prosperity by strengthening human capital, supporting entrepreneurship, promoting innovation and building strong public institutions.

6. Because we want to show the achievements of market transformation and our position among developed economies

Over the last three decades, Poland has come an impressive way – from a centrally planned economy to one of the fastest growing economies in Europe. We want to remind you of the successes of the transformation, the role of integration with the European Union and the global economy, how much has been achieved in terms of GDP growth, exports, living standards, education and infrastructure. The Congress is also an opportunity to consider how to maintain this dynamic in a changing global environment.

7. Because we want to strengthen strategic thinking and create visions of Poland's economic development

Economic policy requires foresight and strategic thinking. The Congress is a place where we can jointly consider different scenarios of the future: will Poland become a technology hub? How will we cope with demographics? Will the energy transformation be a growth engine or a cost challenge? Jointly drawing a road map for the future is one of the most important functions of the Congress.

8. Because we want to inspire better use of the potential of international cooperation

Globalization remains a fact – despite periodic tensions and uncertainties, international cooperation is one of the key growth factors. Poland, as an open economy integrated with the European market, has enormous potential to further benefit from trade, foreign investment and scientific and technical cooperation. The Congress will be a place to present examples of fruitful cooperation and analyze the possibilities of its further development.

9. Because we want to show that we have an impact on improving the quality of life - as economists and citizens

The standard of living of a society is not only the effect of the "invisible hand of the market" - it also depends on the quality of economic policy, the involvement of experts, the effectiveness of institutions and the willingness of citizens to make rational decisions. We want to show that we have a real influence on shaping the future - both as economists and as a civil society. The Congress is a place where we convince that change for the better is possible - and that it depends on us.

10. Because we want to build awareness of economic progress as a source of a better quality of life

Economic success is not just numbers in statistics – it is real improvement in the quality of life, greater financial stability of families, new educational and professional opportunities, better health care. We want to help people see these achievements, understand their sources and derive satisfaction from them. Raising awareness of the progress that Poland has achieved through joint effort helps build social cohesion and strengthens trust in institutions.

11. Because we want to diagnose what doesn't work and look for effective solutions together

The Congress is not just a celebration of successes – it is also a space for critical analysis and self-reflection. We want to talk about what went wrong, where the system failed, what reforms were ineffective, and which actions brought unintended consequences. Only honest identification of errors and open discussion about how to fix them can lead to lasting improvement in the functioning of the economy.

The 11th Congress of Polish Economists is an event that combines tradition with modernity, scientific reflection with practical action, analysis with a vision of the future. We organize it because we believe that economics is a science of possibilities – about how to better use resources, how to increase prosperity and how to make decisions that serve the common good. It is also a form of our responsibility – for the quality of public debate, for the economic education of society and for the future of our economy.

"Rzeczpospolita" is the media patron of the Congress