Procesy transformacji systemowej a rynek pracy w latach 1990-1995

Abstract

The article analyzes the most important phenomena and processes occurring in the Polish labour market during the first years of the systemic transformation in Poland. The analysis with the presentation of selected aspects of systemic transformation processes taking place in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The authors present the main problems (effects) and achievements of the period, when economic transformation was initiated and implemented, and show the common and individual characteristics of the situation in particular in this region. Namely, all these countries witnessed: (1) much smaller cuts in employment than in production; (2) significant drop in economic activity rates; (3) growth of long-term unemployment; and (4) increasing number of population living in poverty. Most attention, which is naturally a result of the analyzed subject, was devoted to the headway made in systemic transformation processes in Poland and their implications for the domestic labour market. Moreover, there are discussed the determinants of transformations including: a deep economic crisis, new institutional and instrumental solutions, current economic policy, external determinants and, in particular, the collapse o f trade contacts with the post-socialist countries and economic consequences of political and social factors of the real socialism period. The programme of changes commonly known as the Balcerowicz Programme was oriented at systemic changes (deregularion, liberalization and privatization) and at stabilization of the economy (fight against inflation). Its implementation was based on the set of goals, among which the following sub-sets can be distinguished: (1) strategic goals; (2) operational goals, and (3) structural goals.