Date: Monday 22 February 2010
Time: 6.30-8pm
Venue: New Theatre, East Building
Speaker: Professor Leszek Balcerowicz
Chair: Professor Damian Chalmers

Leszek Balcerowicz is an economist, a Professor at the Warsaw School of Economics, Former President of the National Bank of Poland and Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the first non-communist Polish Government after the Second World War.

As a Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in the 1990s, Leszek Balcerowicz initiated a series of radical reforms to transform a socialist, centrally planned economy into the free market system. His shock therapy program ensured Poland's successful transition to the market and inspired other post Soviet republics to follow suit.

Leszek Balcerowicz is the author of more than 100 publications on economic issues in Poland and abroad. Recipient of numerous honours from universities and awards worldwide. Awarded with Poland's highest decoration - Order of the White Eagle - for his contribution to the system transformation. Since 2006 Leszek Balcerowicz has belonged to the Distinguished Associates of the International Atlantic Economic Society and in 2010 became the president of the organization. In 2006 Leszek Balcerowicz also became a member of the Group of Trustees, Institute of International Finance. He is the only Central-Eastern European Member of the prestigious "Group of Thirty".

The 31st December 2009 marked the 20th anniversary of the "Balcerowicz Plan". Among other things, the reforms provided for the privatization and restructuring of some state-owned enterprises, as well as for the exchangeability of the Polish zloty and the standardization of taxes. They abolished the state's monopoly in international trade and allowed foreign businesses and individuals to invest in Poland. The reforms introduced by Leszek Balcerowicz in 1989 became a foundation on which a strong free market economy was built. In 2009, Poland was the only European Union member to experience a positive economic growth.

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