The Story Why are so many Poles returning home?
Dec 5, 2025
Oliver Moody, Berlin correspondent for The Times, shares insights on Poland's economic transformation that rivals Japan's growth. He discusses important topics like household purchasing power, educational advancements, and Poland's new role as a hub for entrepreneurs. Agnes Uba, a Polish returnee, offers her personal journey of moving back and finding opportunities in a modernising Poland. Together, they explore corporate success stories and the impact of the Solidarity movement, highlighting the country's resilience and ambitions for the future.
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Poland's Strategic Security Role Has Grown
- Poland rearmed early and now fields one of western Europe's largest conventional militaries.
- Its military logistics and intelligence makes Poland a key security actor in the Ukraine conflict.
Managed Transition Favoured Foreign Investment
- Poland privatized gradually and opened heavily to foreign investment after 1990.
- As a result, 87 of the country's 100 biggest companies ended up in foreign ownership, shaping its modern economy.
Growth Has Been Remarkably Resilient
- Poland's growth showed resilience through the Eurozone crisis and the pandemic.
- GDP fell just 2% in the first pandemic year and then bounced back strongly.
