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Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

euronews.com

81–90 of 190 posts

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think you realize how absurdly overpriced everything is in the US, which inflate GDP quite a lot... I paid less to build my entire top of the line house in eastern Europe than some American spend on a garage extension and a concrete driveway

What constitutes a top of the line house in Eastern Europe? It's unlikely to be what Mississippians consider top of the line.

250sqm, 30cm thick brick for load bearing + perimeter walls, 30cm rockwool continuous external insulation, aluminium frame triple pane windows, glazured roof tiles, floor heating + wood stove backup, 15kwp solar panels installation, deep well backup, etc.

Keep being smug, it just proves my point, Americans still think Arabs live in tents in the desert, Chinese live in the jungle and eastern European build houses out of cow dung and straw. Enjoy your 1m+ stick and cardboard mcmansion that won't last two generations

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You are not European, are you? I know plenty of working class people working ordinary skilled labor jobs who own their homes and drive decent cars. Some people choose to keep renting because we have strong laws guaranteeing renter's rights. Contracts are often unlimited duration with reasonable prices. Also retiring early is not about the money in your bank account around here. You retire early by using certain gover…

I'm a software engineer in the capital of the supposed #1 EU economy and at best I'd be able to afford a 50sqm flat in a ghetto tier neighborhood. I'm actually moving to Eastern Europe because of this bs

Poland isn't any better in that matter; we're still facing huge property development and housing "abnormalities", or as is being said here - pathologies.

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#83
Heise.de, German IT and developer news portal, recently posted a story for German software devs about how to become an expat in Poland. What a shift in tonality for German media: From Polish handymen continuosly voting in right-wing "democracy-abandoning" parties to … somehow … doing better than Germany, economically (in terms of growth and outlook).

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#84
post #2

How much money did they get from EU in last 5 years? Combine that with a lot of ukrainian migrants that actually work and open businesses you get this

> How much money did they get from EU in last 5 years?

A lot. About 1 percentage point of Polish GDP in 2025.

They also had a lot of government spending, with the 2025 budget deficit being 7% of GDP.

Minimum wage was raised with ~10% in January 2025.

There is an irony in people attributing it to conservatism/rightwing politics rather than pretty much the exact opposite. Spain is another example of economic growth in the EU.

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#85
post #22
post #13

I spent some time in Poland three years ago and have not stopped talking about it ever since. It stood out from the other Eastern European countries that I visited on that trip. Had a lunch in Warsaw with a German friend who had relocated there. He said it was more Conservative than Germany and there was more freedom of expression. Over forty years of Communist rule and they were never able to pull them away from the…

It would be good to have real insights into how Poland is doing well just now, but (gestures at thread) it seems to be a lot of people bringing out their pet solutions. Is the boom related to the removal of PiS in 2023? Is it linked to Ukraine (businesses and people relocating across the border? Arms sales?)

No it’s not related to removal of PiS at all. Poland’s economy was booming under PiS

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dying in the third-world from cancer means you die. Dying in the US from cancer means you probably will bankrupt your family first, and ultimately die faster due to the financial burden/stress.

Apparently HN commenters have difficulty with the concept of "metrics." What are the numbers? The US system sucks in a lot of ways, but it works OK for most Americans. If you're very poor, you'll have Medicaid and it'll cost you nothing. If you're an average middle class person, you'll have decent health insurance and your costs will be affordable. There's a slice of people in the middle who don't qualify for medicai…

US life expectancy is 79.76 years. That's 62nd in the world, lover than EU average, lower than many less wealthy countries.

It's objectively not "working OK" for most Americans, especially when you consider how much you spend for subpar results.

Source: https://www.worldometers.info/demographics/life-expectancy/

Now you can blame it on bad lifestyle, addictions, car culture, crime rate, etc. All true, and idiotic healthcare system is indirectly influencing all of that.

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think you realize how absurdly overpriced everything is in the US, which inflate GDP quite a lot... I paid less to build my entire top of the line house in eastern Europe than some American spend on a garage extension and a concrete driveway

What constitutes a top of the line house in Eastern Europe? It's unlikely to be what Mississippians consider top of the line.

[deleted]

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#88

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Wouldn’t „more freedom of expression“ imply less conservative? Or what aspects of conservatism, and what aspects of freedom of expression, are you referring to here?

No, think of the US founders who were freedom of speech champions.

Yet conservative in sense that they... declared independence? I'm trying to follow the second half of that logic train.

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#89
post #13

I spent some time in Poland three years ago and have not stopped talking about it ever since. It stood out from the other Eastern European countries that I visited on that trip. Had a lunch in Warsaw with a German friend who had relocated there. He said it was more Conservative than Germany and there was more freedom of expression. Over forty years of Communist rule and they were never able to pull them away from the…

I am really happy for Poland getting rich (they deserved it!), but with little knowledge about Polish politics you just have to shack your head.

" Warsaw with a German friend who had relocated there. He said it was more Conservative than Germany and there was more freedom of expression." In Poland the constitutional court isnt working very good because of the former authoritarian Orban like PiS government. In case of a next Pis government only the European courts might help in case of a freedom of speech matter.

In Germany the constitutional court does work.

"they were never able to pull them away from their commitment to the Catholic church. " They do. Poland and especially the younger generation is securalising and also becomes more open to queer people. Also you can ask catholic officials how much they are willing to do for freedom of expression of atheism ("crazy") and gay men ("perverts").

Re: Poland now 6th-largest EU economy, ahead of Switzerland and Belgium

#90
post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Dying in the third-world from cancer means you die. Dying in the US from cancer means you probably will bankrupt your family first, and ultimately die faster due to the financial burden/stress.

Simply wrong in most states.

Most? This kinda affirms my point. Where healthcare is free at point of use, the problem is non-existent.
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