The burden of bureaucracy has doubled since 1989 and is set to grow further

Public administration is the second sector of the economy, after mining, which will record the largest pace of growth in 2004 budget expenditures. It will cost the State an estimated zł. 9.4 billion, or 16% more than in 2003. In 2002, the number of bureaucrats totalled 338,600, which is double that employed in 1989. This is the only sector in which employment is growing so rapidly. "This increase is the result of the state taking over new areas of the economy," commented the president of the Adam Smith Center, Adam Sadowski. He added that the bureaucracy would not constitute such a burden for citizens if it was not blocking their activities. According to the Office for European Integration Committee, employment in public administration might grow by a further 15-20% after the country joins the EU. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, B1) M.M. This Week in Warsaw Business Journal Privatization unveiled Tempting alternative: Polish equities Gino Rossi strolls into Europe CPP: Cross-border outsourcing Juicy future Business in Iraq: Tough choice ahead FX Energy: the next move