POLSKA ECONOMY

Before World War II (1939-1945), Poland's economy depended largely on agriculture, which employed about 60 percent of all Polish workers. After the war, the country's Communist leaders stressed the development of industry. New industrial regions were established around Krakow, Warsaw, and other cities. Today, industry employs about 36 percent of all Polish workers, and agriculture employs about 25 percent. Most of Poland's industrial output consists of capital goods, such as factory equipment. The country does not produce enough consumer goods, such as clothing and furniture, to satisfy the people's demands. As a result, the people of Poland have a lower standard of living than do the people of most other nations that are industrialized. Natural resources. Poland's most important natural resource is coal. One of the richest coal fields in the world lies in southern Poland. Poland also has deposits of copper, lead, salt, silver, sulfur, and zinc. Farmland covers more than three-fifths of Poland. But much of the soil is of poor quality and must be fertilized. Forests cover about a fourth of the land. Industry. The Communists established a system of government-owned industries in Poland. In 1990, the new government led by Solidarity began a program to sell these industries to private owners. Many government industries were sold during the early and mid-1990's. The chief manufactured products of Poland include chemicals, food products, iron and steel, machinery, ships, and textiles. Poland ranks among the leading countries in the production of coal and silver. Agriculture. Poland ranks among the world's leading producers of potatoes and rye. Other important crops include barley, sugar beets, and wheat. Farmers throughout Poland raise hogs. Cattle and sheep are raised mainly in the hilly regions of the south. In 1948, the Polish Communist government began to take control of much farmland. Farmers were forced to give up their land and join collective farms that were managed by the government. However, many farmers resisted, and the collectivization program ended in the 1950's. Today, private farms occupy more than 75 percent of Poland's farmland. Most of the rest of the farmland is owned by the government and is leased to private individuals. The average size of the private farms is about 12 acres (5 hectares). Service industries are those economic activities that produce services, not goods. The leading employer among service industries in Poland is the community, social, and personal services group. It includes such economic activities as education, engineering, and health care. The second largest employer among Polish service industries is trade. Other service industries include transportation and communication, government, and finance and insurance. Transportation and communication. Railroads provide the chief means of transportation in Poland. The railroad network links most Polish cities and towns. Poland has an extensive system of roads. The country has an average of about 1 automobile for every 10 people. The chief seaports in Poland are Gdansk, Gdynia, and Szczecin. Polish Airlines (LOT), the country's only airline, operates both domestic and international flights. Poland's chief airport is at Warsaw. About 40 daily newspapers are published in Poland. The country has an average of about 1 radio for every 2 people and 1 television set for every 3 people. Foreign trade. Poland's leading trading partners include many Western European countries, such as Austria, Britain, Germany, and Italy. Its chief exports include coal, food products, machinery, ships, and sulfur. Poland imports cotton, food products, iron ore, machinery, natural gas, petroleum, wool, and other goods.