In Brief: GDP of 3.5%?; Flat rate tax and the budget; First Job

According to Deputy Finance Minister, Jan Czekaj, the anticipated level of GDP growth of 3.5% this year is still an attainable goal. A couple of weeks ago, even Finance Minister Grzegorz Kołodko, showed doubts whether this figure was possible. Increased hope is a result of higher industrial output in April, which grew by 8% as compared to the same period last year. (Parkiet, p. 6) ... Jan Winiecki, the president of the Polish Economists Association (TEP) said that an introduction of a flat rate tax on personal incomes at a level of 16%-17% would not cause a fall in the budget revenues. The Finance Minister has ruled this idea. (Parkiet, p. 6) ... The Economy Ministry is currently preparing a new version of the First Job program, which aims at lowering youth unemployment rates. Activities will be widened and the Ministry announced plans to support school-based employment cooperatives. (Parkiet, p. 6) A.K.