Poland stops EU becoming the most competitive economy in the world

The country will most likely contribute to the largest extent in the failure of the EU becoming the most competitive economy of the world by 2010. The main accusations against Poland include a high unemployment rate and the largest number of barriers to foreign investors. The fiscal system is complicated with a high number of exceptions, while the bad condition of infrastructure is increasing the cost of doing business. "The populism of the new minority right-wing government means that controversial reforms will not be on its agenda," read the report in the part dedicated to Poland. Since 1999, expenditures on R&D have dropped in Poland and the country is far behind in terms of IT investments in governmental authorities. Poland is only highly appraised in terms of raising its qualifications, as a comparatively high number of young people are beginning higher education. Poland is second last only ahead of Malta. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, B1) M.M.