policy paper

Problem: Despite regulations aimed at reducing gender inequality, significant disparities in the earnings of men and women persist in the labour market. These inequities are unjust and inefficient, hindering increased female participation in the workforce, which is critically needed from both economic and demographic perspectives. ...

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Problem  Polish weekly working time is, on average, longer than in other EU countries. The Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Policy is considering reducing working time to four days per week, with wages corresponding to five days of work.  Main message  The introduction of ...

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Problem Tobacco prices significantly influence consumption levels. Over the past decade, they have been falling in relation to incomes and the prices of other products in Poland. We show how a new law implementing an increase in excise duty will affect cigarette smoking and the ...

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Some households in an energy poverty crisis cannot rely on support from other people. Also, the effectiveness of programs combating energy poverty is limited due to difficulties in reaching households in crisis. Without institutional, material, and emotional support, people experiencing energy poverty cannot improve their ...

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There are several areas for improvement in wage setting in the public administration sector in Poland. Public administration pays a lower premium for tertiary education and offers lower wages for young employees than the business sector. Instead, public administration provides large returns to job tenure, ...

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Climate policy is crucial for preventing the devastating effects of natural disasters like droughts, floods, and heat waves. It also plays a vital role in reducing Poland's dependence on imported coal, gas, and oil, addressing energy security concerns in the wake of the crisis caused ...

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Widespread modernisation of social housing is essential if the country is to avoid exacerbating energy poverty in its cities. In Poland, the inhabitants of social housing estates are people with low and insecure incomes; their homes are often in poor condition and are usually heated ...

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The gender employment gap between young, prime-age men and women in Poland and Hungary is large in comparison to that in other EU countries. This is mainly due to the low employment rates among women with young children who withdraw from the labour market due ...

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COVID-19 vaccines have proven highly effective in protecting against serious disease and death. Yet despite their introduction, Poland’s COVID-19 mortality rate remains high. This results from Poland’s lower vaccination rate compared to other EU countries – especially among people aged 70 or more who are ...

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The geopolitical situation and the EU's ambitious climate policy are increasing energy prices. And when these rise, they inflate the risk of poverty and inequality – especially among poorer households. The Anti-inflation Shield proposed by the Polish government in November 2021 is not a remedy ...

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I would like to thank Jan Rutkowski for his support in preparing this policy paper and his particularly helpful remarks.

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