This is Leszek Balcerowicz, the father of Poland’s economic reforms. The 1990s were just as significant for Poland as they were for Russia. Reforms in the style of "shock therapy" were implemented there as well. The only difference is that Poland succeeded.
Russian reformers studied Poland's experience and used it as a reference. So what went wrong in Russia? Why did Poland become a democratic country with a market economy, while Russia ended up with a dictatorship?
Russian version [ Ссылка ]
00:00 — Poland was a bankrupt country with 500% inflation, yet the reforms of the 1990s were successful. How did that happen?
06:23 — Russia had oil and gas; Poland was bankrupt. Russia ended up with oligarchs; Poland didn’t. What went wrong?
12:00 — Why Balcerowicz was hated in Poland
13:37 — In 1995, a communist president came to power in Poland, and... the regime wasn’t restored
15:13 — Why Poland managed to hold fair elections in 1995, but Russia’s 1996 elections remain controversial to this day
17:17 — How Leszek Balcerowicz didn’t become a millionaire, unlike many Russian reformers
20:29 — In 1990s Poland, former communists held leadership positions but were not accused of collaborating with a criminal regime. Can we accuse Nabiullina of collaboration with the regime?
24:55 — What awaits the Russian economy, and why are sanctions not working?
29:46 — What will happen to Ukraine’s economy after the war?
#Zygar #Interview #Balcerowicz
