policy paper

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 a four-day week would significantly exacerbate ...

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

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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 situation. We argue for broader usage ...

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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, incentivising lifelong employment. Such a model ...

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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 by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. ...

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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 with either coal stoves ...

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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 to care duties. They face numerous barriers ...

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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 at the highest risk from ...

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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 to that problem; it ...

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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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As a result of decarbonisation, the number of jobs in coal mining and mining-related industries will drop. However, the risk of increased unemployment related to this process can be minimised. To that end, to mitigate the consequences of the transition away from coal, it is necessary to halt the inflow of new workers, ...

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