Poland, where the communists changed the rule and the economy of the land, was invaded by the Soviet Union between 1945 and 1989. Using the Red Army, the Soviet Union ensured the destruction of all anti-communists in the country (Bukowski & Novokmet, 2021). The opposition would be exiled or sentenced to death by the new ruling government. The recovering economy after World War II was nationalized, making it even worse for development (Chmielewska-Szlajfer, 2018). However, the government that took over after the communist ensured the immediate comeback of the market economy.
The biggest change after communism was the recovery and stabilization of Poland’s economy. The new government introduced economic reform programs aimed at allowing market allocation of resources and large ownership of private properties (Chmielewska-Szlajfer, 2018). The reforms were imposed to reduce inflation, eliminate product shortages, control prices, and remove the restriction on foreign trade, among other things. With a growing and stable economy, Polish lives changed, whereby entrepreneurs would easily trade and make profits (Chmielewska-Szlajfer, 2018). Owning private properties also became easier as well as trading across boundaries.
Government intervention in various sectors of the economy to boost microeconomic status had a great impact on the country. The government provided capital for needy sectors such as mining, steel manufacturing, and shipbuilding to reduce inflation caused by importing such materials (Bukowski & Novokmet, 2021). The government also developed various policies which sought to rebuild the microeconomic industry to be more profitable. These policies reduced market entry barriers such as strict regulation to allow many small-scale firms to trade freely.
Unemployment was a major problem in Poland immediately after resuming communism. The high level of employment was not so devastating after the government put several reform policies in lending and banking (Chmielewska-Szlajfer, 2018). These policies allowed entrepreneurship in the newly formed free-market economy. Life in Poland grew peaceful and admirable as people started regaining stability from war and lack of freedom (Chmielewska-Szlajfer, 2018). The rapidly growing economy also allowed the formation of families, the pursuit of education, and general human growth. Poland did not have direct relations with President Reagan; hence there was no registered impact of his ruling.
Significant social structure changes were experienced in Poland from communism whereby there was public ownership of means of production, and all people were considered to be from one social class. After communism, the government enabled the privatization of production and a free-market economy (Chmielewska-Szlajfer, 2018). The changes in social structure enabled by the economy were at the top list of developments (Bukowski & Novokmet, 2021). These appeared in the various social classes; that is upper, middle, and lower. The highest population in the country through gaining financial stability moved from the lower to the middle level of social class (Chmielewska-Szlajfer, 2018). With the majority being in the middle class, the minority was in the upper and lower class. The booming Poland economy allowed the population to grow financially independent.
Differences between people living in a democratic nation and a communist country are apparent by looking at Poland before and after communism. Democratic nations people have the right to conduct elections, while those in communist countries have no right to conduct elections (Bukowski & Novokmet, 2021). Democratic nations believe in transparency and allowing people to choose their leader but communism believes in taking over power by force. People living in democratic nations enjoy a social structure enabled by the growing economy, whereas those in communist countries have an equal social level and a nationally owned economy (Bukowski & Novokmet, 2021). Finally, democratic nations have a low level of unemployment compared to those communist nations.
References
Bukowski, P., & Novokmet, F. (2021). Between communism and capitalism: Long-term inequality in Poland, 1892–2015. Journal of Economic Growth, 26(1), 1-53. Web.
Chmielewska-Szlajfer, H. (2018). Reshaping Poland’s community after communism: Ordinary celebrations. Springer.