The panel began with Szymon Ostrowski introducing a note of skepticism toward the optimistic vision of economic development previously presented by Professor Marcin Piątkowski. He pointed out that Poles are among the hardest-working nations in Europe, housing prices are rising at an alarming rate, and wages remain lower than in Western countries.
Professor Witold Orłowski highlighted that Poland’s “growth dividend” is beginning to run out as labor costs in Poland approach those in Germany. He expressed concern about the situation where young Poles have to work harder for lower wages. Cautioning against excessive optimism, he cited Japan’s example: in the 1990s, it was expected to economically surpass the United States but instead fell into prolonged stagnation. Referring to a report by Mario Draghi, he noted that young, innovative Europeans are relocating their companies to the United States, where financing is more accessible. He called for new policies to encourage young talent to remain in Europe.
Professor Marcin Piątkowski, diplomatically critiquing the Polish government, argued that it is better to pursue a strategy of becoming Europe’s growth leader rather than settling for a “warm water in the taps” approach. He voiced concern that by 2025, real spending on science in Poland, accounting for inflation, would be lower than in 2024, which he deemed unacceptable. He emphasized the need to improve labor productivity, advocating for working less but more efficiently. He also referenced World Bank projections showing that 1.1 billion young people will enter the global labor market in the next decade, with 800 million unable to find jobs.
Dagmara Peret brought an optimistic tone to the discussion, expressing pride at the sight of over 1,000 young people gathered in the Palace of Culture and Science. She disagreed with Szymon Ostrowski, asserting that young people in Poland are already earning well enough to rent an apartment in Warsaw and meet their basic needs. Professor Witold Orłowski, responding to Professor Piątkowski’s remarks, joked that instead of “warm water in the taps,” young Poles should take a “cold shower” every day.
Dariusz Mazurkiewicz drew attention to Poland’s achievements in innovation, particularly the BLIK payment system, which is making Poland increasingly recognized as an emerging leader in innovation. He noted that Poland has become a model for mobile payments in countries like Germany, France, and Italy. He expressed confidence that Poland should strive not only to be a leader in economic growth but also in innovation, pointing out the growing number of unicorns—companies valued at over $1 billion—emerging in the country.
In the second part of the discussion, Szymon Ostrowski asked the panelists for advice for young people. Izabela Peret encouraged Generation Z to consider careers in the energy sector. Dariusz Mazurkiewicz recommended constant skill improvement, openness to the world, and building networks from an early age. Professor Marcin Piątkowski said: “Be proud, aim high, and conquer the world.” Finally, Szymon Ostrowski added that Poles have many reasons to be proud of their country.
