Interrupted by the global pandemic (unexpected last year), the path of Poland's economic growth requires not only decisive protective measures, but also solid incentives stimulating a return to development. In Polish reality, it seems obvious that only the state has the capabilities and resources to become a stimulus for such activities. This applies to both the creation of adequate legislative solutions and also investment opportunities. Experts from the Staszic Institute indicate, however, that the ideal solution would be to combine the above-mentioned advantages of the state with the potential of reliable private entities within a well-functioning public-private partnership (PPP).

"Record economic growth or historically high financial results achieved by state-owned companies in recent years have proved that the development model enshrined in the Strategy for Responsible Development (SRD) works in practice. The state does not escape responsibility for its citizens whose resourcefulness in unfortunately, in the past years it appeared mainly in the form of mass economic emigration to the rich countries of the "old Union", and also feels obliged to provide the greatest possible support to domestic enterprises, exactly as Germans or French have done for many years with their business entities," Staszic Institute stated.

According to experts, the coronavirus epidemic has dramatically changed the situation, triggering a global recession that Poland will also have to face. Does this mean that the assumptions contained in the SRD should be redefined?

"On the contrary - in the face of the economic slump we have not seen in our recent history, the role of the state should increase even more, but it should still be the role of a stimulus, good organizer and creator of development conditions for private enterprises, so that they suffer as little as possible as a result of the crisis,"  the analysis reads.

Therefore, it seems obvious that public-private partnership should be back in favor, but in a qualitative setting that we have not yet dealt with in Poland. In times of combating the effects of the crisis, the margin of errors that are possible has narrowed down. Today, we will not be able to afford projects that are unsuccessful or inefficiently implemented. Therefore, this requires more robust planning than usual and very careful selection of partners.

(WBJ)