Przeludnienie agrarne a rozwój gospodarczy wsi polskiej w pracach Władysława Grabskiego

Abstract

The article discusses the concepts of the agrarian policy formulated by W. Grabski and aiming at elimination of agrarian overpopulation being one of basie socio-economic problems of the interwar Poland. Grabski's postulates are of complex charactęr. They encompass in their coverage co-ordinated activities inside the agricultural sector: transformation of the agrarian structure, development of agricultural education, development of agricultural infrastructure, and activities outside the agriculture - development of the industry. These aspects distinguish them in a positive way from then unilateral propositions. Analysis of Grabski's views is perfomed from the viewpoint of the theory of development of developing states. It should be underlined here that they fulfil the basic conditions formulated in these theries. Grabski proposed the agrarian reform, developicent of the industry, improvement in the education level, however, the development concept proposed by him in its concrete form could not free the Polish economy from the vicious circle of poverty - it could only weaken the negative conseąuences of overpopulation. This was rather treatment of symptoms than elimination of structural causes of the economic baekwardness. Grabski's propositions could improve the effectiveness of use of production means, make the period of accelerated development easier and less painful for the agriculture. On the other hand, they failed to create strong enough stimuli for entering the starting phase.