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MEGA INTERVIEW
would say, oh, there are poor people, let that. There is the question of the economic
us increase the minimum wage, and then growth in the respective countries.
there would be more unemployed. Faster economic growth creates more
opportunities. So, if Macedonia maintains
Where do you see Poland 10 years its leading position among Western
from now? Is the stability on the political Balkans countries it could attract more
and security front, gained from joining attention from other countries, including
the EU and NATO a major building block Polish, German investors. Good economic
that paved the way for sustainable long- policies offer good solutions.
term growth?
Now, we are leaving Poland as a topic.
L. Balcerowicz: No, when we started We cannot avoid the discussion about
in 1989 there was no prospect of joining the euro-zone developments. It does not
the European Union. So, we did reforms meet the standard criteria for an optimal
not because of the European Union, but currency zone, there is a monetary union,
for ourselves. There was a team which but lack of fiscal union. What are the
I headed which understood what to do, biggest challenges for the euro now and
more or less. The prospect for European in the future?
Union appeared in the late 1990ties. And
then we introduced some extra changes, L. Balcerowicz: The biggest challenge
European legislation, etc. But once you is to improve the economic situation in
enter the European Union, this prospect some of the largest countries, especially
of entering the European Union is gone, Italy and France, through reforms. And
because how many times you can enter there are no European solutions for
the EU? So you need to create forces for the French problems, for the Italian
good policies, inside. problems. There are Italian solutions for
the Italian problems, French solutions
Entering EU also had to do with for the French problems. Let us hope.
the geopolitical reasons, not only the
economic reasons. There was no big So basically you are saying that
problem with convincing the people solutions should come from the respective
about joining EU. Somehow, it wasa sign countries themselves.
that we are in the united Europe.
Poland is not much oriented towards L. Balcerowicz: Yes, especially from the
the Western Balkans region. In your large countries. You know, even in the
view, what are the factors that probably United States, which is a federal state,
discourage Polish companies to increase there are huge differences between,
the trade or expand their businesses more on the one hand California where they
rapidly in this region? Do you expect this tend to have populist policies, and on
to change in the future? the other hand, Texas. And when, say,
California runs into trouble, the federal
L. Balcerowicz: Obviously, there is the state is not bailing out. In Europe, I
question of the distance. But it is not only believe the solution is to go back, to the
The poorer you are the faster you have
to grow. This is by far the most important
national social goal. But, to grow, you need
continued good policies
18 September 2015
