In 1989, Poland was broke, exhausted, and on the brink of collapse. Three decades later, it has become one of Europe’s fastest-growing economies and perhaps its most surprising success story.

This audio feature, written and read by Notes from Poland senior editor Alicja Ptak, tells the story of how Poland went from post-communist turmoil to “an unprecedented economic miracle”.

Based on an interview with economist Marcin Piątkowski, author of Europe’s Growth Champion, it traces Poland’s transformation from a feudal oligarchy through communism to an inclusive, high-income society and explores the risks that could bring this golden age to an end.

🎙️ Want more? The full interview with Marcin Piątkowski on The Warsaw Wire podcast will be available in next episode.