Why Poles are heading back home
About 10 years ago, backlash against an influx of Eastern European immigrants 鈥� mainly from Poland 鈥� helped propel Brexit, the United Kingdom鈥檚 decision to leave the European Union. (That, in turn, led thousands of Poles to leave the U.K.)
A little more than 10 days ago, The London Times published a guide for citizens of the U.K. about picking up their lives and moving ... to Poland! 鈥淲ith a lower cost of living and a booming tech industry, [Poland] is calling to many Brits,鈥� the Times stated.
This turnaround highlights how economic progress in the formerly communist nation has taken place side by side with growth in democratic values and institutions that reward individual effort and innovation.
鈥淧oland ... stands as one of history鈥檚 most remarkable examples of how embracing democratic institutions and a free-market economy can radically transform a nation and propel it [to] rapid development,鈥� the Atlantic Council noted in a report last year. The document cited 鈥渢hree foundational pillars of a free society 鈥� rule of law, democracy, and [a] market economy鈥� 鈥� as contributing to Poland鈥檚 ability to thrive.
These pillars are cemented in Poland鈥檚 history of resisting and overthrowing decades of communist rule in the late 1980s, when citizens lacked basic foods as well as freedoms.
Today, 85% of Poles say that 鈥渓iving in a democratically governed country is definitely important,鈥� according to a survey conducted last month by the College of Eastern Europe in Wroc艂aw. Most respondents, the report said, displayed a 鈥渞everence and respect for democracy,鈥� pointing to aspects such as freedom of speech and expression, the ability to make decisions about their own lives, and the influence they can have on society and politics.
Seeking to join the European Union (which it did in 2004), Poland has built frameworks for civil liberty and business, including an independent judiciary, banking regulations, and an anti-monopoly agency. Its economy has grown 3.8% annually and combines agriculture, manufacturing, finance, tech, and services. It is now among the world鈥檚 20 largest economies, having recently displaced Switzerland from that group.
The Polish people鈥檚 commitment to political and economic openness is notable, in a context of growing right-wing nationalism at home and the war raging along its eastern border. Poland has taken in more than 1 million refugees since Russia鈥檚 full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. But it has turned that to an advantage by tapping their skills to increase both the workforce and the tax base.
As it confronts a shrinking and aging population, Poland is fortunate that skilled citizens wish to return home from the United States and Western Europe, and those in the country already don鈥檛 want to leave.
鈥淧oland has ... so many opportunities for development, that of course I am staying,鈥� a young graduate student told The Associated Press this month. 鈥淧oland is promising.鈥�
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