Archiwa Foundation - Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej

Let’s create laws that support instead of restrict. Deregulation.pl non-governmental initiative launches

FWG — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 05:33:26 +0000

Let’s create laws that support instead of restrict. Deregulation.pl non-governmental initiative launches

Autor: FWG

The Economic Freedom Foundation (EFF) and the Civil Development Forum (CDF) are launching Deregulacja.pl, a long-term project in response to the growing interest in the topic of deregulation and the need for a reliable source of knowledge. “We want to improve the quality of law in Poland by simplifying it and eliminating unnecessary regulations”.

Foundation , Liberalism07.04.2025

The goal of the initiative is to educate, point out legal absurdities and promote changes that will make the system more transparent and friendly to entrepreneurs and employees. The EFF and CDF also call for improvements in the legislative process to improve the quality of legislation and reduce the problem of over-regulation in the future.

Within the framework of the project, the two foundations also intend to monitor deregulation carried out by those in power, mobilize politicians for action and support valuable ideas presented by entrepreneurs and citizens.

It’s time for action!

For years, Poland has had a problem with overregulation of the economy. The free-market reforms introduced more than 30 years ago became the foundation of Poland’s economic miracle. Thanks to them, we went through a period of stable development, which led to a lasting improvement in the quality of life. Nevertheless, successive governments have created new regulations, often complicating the rules and taking entrepreneurs by surprise. Excessive regulation and unpredictability limit the freedom of doing business.

“At the CDF Foundation, we have been working for years on deregulation so that the law supports development and innovation,” says Marcin Zielinski, president of CDF, adding, “We create reports on the barriers facing Polish entrepreneurs: restrictions on competition, restrictions on exchange, labor market regulations and bureaucratic burdens. As part of the new iteration of the project, we will also promote changes that will lower the cost of doing business in our country.

“Deregulation benefits entrepreneurs, workers and the economy. What is needed is systematic and professional communication in this area, which we will carry out as part of the Deregulacja.pl project,” adds Zielinski.

Deregulation as a key to development

Deregulation doesn’t just mean abolishing unnecessary regulations – it’s mostly about simplifying them and adapting them to modern economic realities. Better laws mean more investment, less bureaucracy and a more competitive economy.

“International comparisons show that Poland needs deregulation – we are ranked 70th in the Economic Freedom of the World ranking,” stresses Marek Tatala, president of the Economic Freedom Foundation. “Deregulation will have its opponents, but it is necessary to take advantage of the current interest in this topic so that as many good changes as possible come into effect and serve entrepreneurs, but also Poles.”

Without constant pressure, politicians may quickly abandon the topic. “We don’t want deregulation to be just a fad. If we create the right tools today, they can limit the creation of bad laws in the future”, Tatala adds.

What do we offer?

Key demands of the Deregulation.pl initiative include:

A moratorium on new regulations until the first significant deregulation packages and one-in-one-out rules take effect – such as a regulatory brake for 100-180 days;
An assessment of existing economic law in the various ministries;
Improving the quality of the legislative process, including better impact assessments and public consultations;
EU+0 principle, i.e. implementation of EU law only to the minimum extent required by European regulations;
Strengthening Poland’s voice in the EU as a brake on new regulations and a country pushing for real deregulation in Europe, which will begin later in 2025, preferably during the Polish presidency.

On the project’s website you can find information on the most important deregulation activities, as well as check what is happening with the demands of the business community and where there are roadblocks to good economic changes.

Expertise and commitment

The project is being carried out in cooperation between the Economic Freedom Foundation (EFF) and the Civil Development Forum (CDF). Both organizations support a pro-development and freedom approach to the economy, and specialize in economic analysis of the law, monitoring the legislative process and promoting policies that are good for the economy. They have actively supported the idea of deregulation for years.

In parallel, concrete actions to simplify the law and increase economic and personal freedom are being carried out by a team coordinated by a polish entrepreneur Rafal Brzoska. Many of the detailed solutions can be found on the website of SprawdzaMY.com initiative, that the EFF and CDF are a part of. The EFF and CDF, as part of the Deregulacja.pl project, intend to support such activities, even after the SprawdzaMY initiative presents a final list of demands.

“It is hoped that as many changes as possible will be made in the coming weeks, and the first drafts will be passed by the Sejm before the elections. But looking at the history of Polish legislation, many of the changes could take months and, in the absence of sustained external pressure, remain stalled for longer”, the EFF president concludes.

For more information about the initiative, visit: www.deregulacja.pl.

Artykuł Let’s create laws that support instead of restrict. Deregulation.pl non-governmental initiative launches pochodzi z serwisu Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej.

What does Poland get thanks to the EU? Economic Freedom Foundation’s campaign

FWG — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 20:01:36 +0000

What does Poland get thanks to the EU? Economic Freedom Foundation’s campaign

Autor: FWG

Through its public awareness campaign, the Economic Freedom Foundation hopes to raise awareness of the economic realities of EU functioning that are sometimes disregarded while also encouraging participation in the upcoming European Parliament election. President of the foundation Marek Tatala says to Polish voters: “Vote on June 9 and don’t let yourself be taken out of the Union.”

Foundation06.06.2024

WATCH THE OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN VIDEO WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES>>

Poland’s economic success would not have been as remarkable without the European Union. In the past 20 years, Poland’s GDP per capita has increased from 50% of the EU average to 80%. A number of studies indicate that between 2004 and 2023, EU membership accounted for between one-third and half of Poland’s economic growth, depending on the methodology and data used. Furthermore, Deloitte calculates that Poland’s exports of goods and services to other EU nations support 5 million jobs.

– Over a 20-year period, Poland’s export value to other EU nations increased from 45 billion euros in 2004 to 262 billion euros in 2023, an almost six-fold increase. Furthermore, it was a time of extremely rapid development, particularly for some service industries like transportation, information and communication, or business services for businesses – Marek Tatala points out.

PRO-TURNOUT CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS

One of the focuses of the Economic Freedom Foundation’s work is to secure a strong position for Poland in the EU. One thing we can do to affect the composition and operations of the EU is to vote in elections. It is why a campaign about the advantages of being a member of the EU is being run on social media and through a variety of traditional channels to encourage people to vote. Additionally, the website www.polskawunii.pl presents economic data regarding the advantages of membership in the European Union.

– It highlights the key areas where EU membership has had a particularly noticeable impact. These include the modernization of public transportation and railroads, exports to EU nations, the construction of new roads in Poland, new jobs, economic growth, and scientific exchange through initiatives like the Erasmus program – Marek Tatala enumerates.

A prime example of that is the Single Market of the European Union. – It is the EU’s most valuable asset. 50% of Poland’s imports and approximately 75% of its exports of goods are connected to the Single Market. The openness of borders to the movement of capital, people, goods, and services is enabling the Polish economy to grow at a faster rate. The economic benefits of the EU Single Market are at least five times higher than the impact of EU subsidies, as demonstrated by the EFF’s report “Poland at Single Market – Benefits, Barriers, Reforms.” – says the EFF’s president.

“WHAT DO POLAND GET THANKS TO THIS UNION?” EFF’S VIDEO

– Union, Union! And what do we get thanks to this Union? – asks the main character of the EFF’s pro-turnout video during a barbecue, as in the iconic scene from the movie “Life of Brian” by the Monthy Python group. The other participants of the barbecue remind him of the long list of benefits. “Check out the facts about Poland in the EU and don’t let yourself be taken out of the Union. Vote on June 9th,” we hear in the end.

– We have surpassed a number of nations in terms of GDP per capita since entering the European Union. Not just the nations we joined the EU with, like Slovakia and Hungary, but also Greece and Portugal. We may soon overtake Spain. We can eventually catch up to other nations if we implement sound economic policies and fully utilize European integration – Tatala argues.

Participation in the European Parliament elections is simple. At www.polskawunii.pl you can find information on how to check the electoral commission where you are registered or change a voting location. The elections to the European Parliament in Poland will be held on June 9, 2024, from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The list of candidates can be found on the website of the State Election Commission.

And what about the future? After the European Parliament elections, the EU needs economic reforms to become more competitive in the global economy. Greater deregulation and flexibility of regulations in the EU and member states, as well as reducing national barriers that still block the flow of goods and services in the Single Market, will be beneficial both for the economies of EU members and for the entire Union. A stronger, more competitive European economy and faster growth in the Union will weaken the arguments of opponents of European integration and populists who would like to withdraw Poland from the European Union.

For more information about the campaign (in Polish only) visit www.polskawunii.pl.

Artykuł What does Poland get thanks to the EU? Economic Freedom Foundation’s campaign pochodzi z serwisu Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej.

Arkadiusz Muś: Polish Economy needs a New Vision

FWG — Tue, 07 May 2024 08:43:27 +0000

Arkadiusz Muś: Polish Economy needs a New Vision

Autor: FWG

After eight years of populism and attacks on liberal democracy, a change of government was an important short-term goal for many Poles. Today, it is necessary to think from a much longer perspective to finally make Poland a prosperous, attractive and even better country to live in.

Foundation07.05.2024

The Law and Justice Party (PiS) deceived many with a vision of Poland in which prosperity would be based on state-owned “national champions,” oligarchic relations of business and politicians, public investment, and a high degree of redistribution, i.e., taking from some and giving to others. It is high time to move away from such flawed policies.
Those in power should announce a new vision of development and skillfully communicate it to the voters. Business organizations, think tanks, and academics develop many sensible recommendations and concrete policies. We just need to pick the right ones and start implementing them. But let’s subordinate this to a new vision for the economy, one that builds on the proven solutions of the past.

I believe that in this vision, the economy should be based on private property, for which a return to the much-demonized privatization is essential and competitive, which will not be achieved without deregulation and bringing Poland to the forefront of economic freedom. Let us be inspired by the countries of the North, from Scandinavia to the Netherlands, Ireland or Germany, which are much higher in the rankings of economic freedom and competitiveness.
Let’s not follow in the footsteps of the much less economically organized South. The Government re-examines plans for building the Central Communication Port (CPK), but let’s not limit our development vision to the construction of a single airport. We urgently need an answer to the increasingly serious demographic challenges of an aging population and a declining number of people of working age. Finally, we need a vision of a stronger Poland in an integrated Europe, which would be helped by adopting the path to the Euro and returning to a serious discussion about the common currency.

The economy comes first

The ruling party has already made some decisive changes in public television and the public prosecutor’s office. Other institutions that PiS tried to take over are waiting in the wings. But the economy should not have to wait its turn – the government can implement many reforms in parallel. In my company, which I have been building for 32 years, we never stop developing. We are investing in new technologies, new people. Development goes on 24 hours a day. If we stop even for a moment, we are finished. The state should act with similar thoughts, especially in times of such dynamic technological changes, the development of artificial intelligence, the war in Ukraine or the next waves of radical populism.

Greater security, modern education, efficient courts, decent infrastructure, and energy transition all require money. They will not be produced by politicians. As British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said, “The state has no source of money other than the money people earn themselves. If the state wishes to spend more, it can do so only by borrowing your savings or by taxing you more. There is no such thing as public money, there is only taxpayers’ money.”. Regardless of one’s views on how much the government should “take away”, the fact is that something must first be created in order for there to be something to “take away”. This is just one of many reasons why the economy is so important.

More importantly, a growing economy allows us to build the strength of the country and the people who live in it. With rapid and stable growth that will lead to catching up with the wealthiest countries in the West, we will strengthen Poland’s position in international institutions, including the EU and NATO. Moreover, economic development is the best way to raise wages and living standards. There is plenty of empirical evidence that free market capitalism, globalization and openness have contributed to tremendous development, poverty reduction and improved living conditions for a large part of humanity over the last 200 years. Argentine President Javier Milei recently recalled this in Davos.

Entrepreneurs took the floor

In April 2023, I called for more business engagement in politics and civil society. Although this group could have done more and some of its representatives did not rise to the occasion, I believe we contributed to the change in Poland. Exit polls on election day showed that support among entrepreneurs for the current ruling coalition was more than 65%, while only 20% voted for PiS.

Thanks to business support, there were several high-profile mobilization campaigns that resulted in record voter turnout. The populist referendum, which demonized privatization, raising the retirement age in an aging society, or openness to immigrants, was also effectively discouraged. Significantly, many private businessmen chose to contribute to the parties of the then opposition, in contrast to the Law and Justice Party’s contribution register, which was full of nominees from state-owned companies.

Changing the economy and the mindset

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the economic transformation in Poland. Had it not been for these events, I would probably never have become an entrepreneur. The leaders who guided Poland through this difficult process, including Lech Walesa, Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Leszek Balcerowicz, had the vision and determination to lead the country toward democracy, greater economic freedom and integration with the Western world. They did not succumb to the easy excuses that nothing could be done. They were not afraid to take risks. We can see now how much those efforts paid off. Today, such great sacrifices are not necessary, but in both politics and business, a certain amount of effort is required to reap additional benefits over time.

The anniversary of the transformation is a reason to celebrate and an excuse to talk about the future. It will not be possible to carry out ambitious reforms if there is no change in the way we think about the economy. Economic policy cannot be a secondary issue, limited to “keeping the lights on”. Otherwise, we will never be able to close the development gap between Poland and countries that were lucky enough not to have lost more than 40 years under socialism. It is also important that entrepreneurs are not treated with hostility because they are too important a part of the economic ecosystem. Some members of my profession have contributed to tarnishing the image of the entrepreneur, but a few black sheep should not be used as a justification for rejecting the partnership between business and politics that lead to the development of companies, the improvement of the situation of workers and, consequently, GDP growth.

The Economic Freedom Foundation, which I founded, supports a number of non-governmental initiatives that prepare concrete legislative solutions, as well as work on civic education and the transformation of long-term thinking, creating a better climate of ideas for a free vision of development.

Freedom as a recipe for prosperity

In 2023, we defended liberal democracy in Poland. This would not have been possible without Donald Tusk’s return to national politics, which saved us from the threatening announcement of “Budapest in Warsaw”. The political change in the country is an opportunity that should be seized, and I urge the Prime Minister, the government and all reasonable people in the opposition to do so, because many important reforms for Poland and future generations require cooperation across party lines.

It’s time to present a vision of development in which privatization, deregulation, a responsible approach to demographics or the start of a discussion about the Euro in Poland can serve as new forces for growth and protect our country from the return of extreme populists to power. I realize that this may sound risky to some. After all, the Law and Justice Party and other populist forces have been trying for years to make all these issues anathema to us. As an entrepreneur, I know that sometimes risks are necessary to reap much greater rewards later, and experienced politicians should be able to manage these risks responsibly. Moreover, it is liberalism, not an enlarged state, that is the better safeguard against populism.

Today, leaders in Germany, France, or the United Kingdom face local problems and declining support. In this situation, with its strengths and a new political opening, Poland should seize the moment and, as in 1989, become a leader in bold reforms nationally and across the EU. Over the past eight years, we have missed many opportunities for real and good economic change. Ambitious reforms will make up for this lost time.

Arkadiusz Muś, entrepreneur, owner of Press Glass Holding, founder of the Economic Freedom Foundation

Artykuł Arkadiusz Muś: Polish Economy needs a New Vision pochodzi z serwisu Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej.

EFF’s successful campaign against the populist referendum

FWG — Thu, 04 Jan 2024 10:48:05 +0000

EFF’s successful campaign against the populist referendum

Autor: FWG

Parliamentary elections in 2023 led to major political changes in Poland. With the elections, the Law and Justice party combined a referendum – but the questions were biased and the party wanted to improve its electoral result in this way. It was parliamentary elections that were to decide Poland’s future – not a referendum. The Economic Freedom Foundation conducted an effective information campaign in September and October 2023 to discourage participation in the pseudo-referendum. Our activities contributed to the fact that nearly 10 million voters refused to pick up a referendum card.

Foundation04.01.2024

EFF’s successful campaign

The Economic Freedom Foundation was one of the entities authorized by the National Electoral Commission to conduct the referendum campaign, including a free public media campaign. In parallel with the campaign in the media, the website oreferendum.pl has been launched, from which voters could learn about the true intentions of this “plebiscite”. There were also spots aired on Polish Public Television and Polish Public Radio (and its regional branches), as well as in private media (Polsat Group and EuroZet Group).

According to the law on the nationwide referendum, public broadcasters could not prohibit the airing of the eligible entity’s spot, which provided an opportunity to reach these stations’ viewers with facts and messages that they are unable to see and hear on a daily basis.

Even before October 15, the majority of voters believed that elections, not referendum, were more important for Poland’s socio-economic future, according to research by Opinia24, commissioned by the Economic Freedom Foundation. As a result, EFF encouraged people to go to the Sejm and Senate elections, but not to get caught up in the political game of the referendum, and therefore not to pick up a referendum card from the commission.

– We live in a free country. We have the right to decide what is important to us and whether we will get caught up in the political game. To make a real difference, cast an important vote in the elections – and don’t take your referendum card from the commission – we can hear in the anti-referendum video prepared by the Economic Freedom Foundation.

– The best way to ensure that our vote does not increase the turnout in the referendum is to refuse to take the referendum card from the commission. It is the responsibility of the election commission to ensure that the referendum card you do not take is not used. The commission should note in the register that you did not take the card – make sure it does so. – Marek Tatala, vice president of the Foundation, reiterated during the campaign.

In the end, the turnout for the nationwide referendum was well below the ruling party’s expectations – less than 41 percent, according to the National Electoral Commission. The parliamentary elections, on the other hand, enjoyed a record turnout of 74.38 percent. This means that as many as 9,884,303 voters deliberately did not pick up a referendum card.

Election campaign with taxpayers’ money

The referendum included four questions that were phrased in a way that suggested an answer. The first was: “Do you support selling off state assets to foreign entities, leading to the loss of Poles’ control over strategic sectors of the economy?”

The second: “Do you support raising the retirement age, including the restoration of the increased retirement age for men and women to 67?”

The third: “Do you support the removal of the barrier on the border of the Republic of Poland with the Republic of Belarus?”.

Fourth: “Do you support the admission of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Middle East and Africa, in accordance with the forced relocation mechanism imposed by the European bureaucracy?”.

– Nearly 60% of voters agree that the answers to the referendum questions are obvious and there is no point in asking about the issues they raise in a referendum – Marek Tatala said. According to the EFF vice president, the referendum was a distraction and a tool for additional financing of the campaign of the ruling party beyond the limits of the electoral law.

With the help of those in power came the extremely politicized state-controlled companies whose foundations were involved in the referendum campaign. These included the foundations of Bank Pekao S.A., the Polish Energy Group, the PKP Group, Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa, the Polish Armaments Group and Totalizator Sportowy. These companies are controlled by the Law and Justice Party and their actions were a way to circumvent rules on election campaign financing, as well as a violation of the principle of political neutrality of state-owned companies.

For example, the PGE Foundation published a spot in the government media encouraging people to cast a certain vote in the referendum. In the spot, Poland before the Law and Justice governance was described as a “market for foreign capital”. The spot clearly suggested a “no” vote, coinciding fully with the ruling party’s line. As another example, the Polish Armaments Group Foundation invoked the security of the homeland in its materials, referring to the question about the alleged removal of a barrier on the Polish-Belarusian border, which no one actually proposed.

The referendum on the same day as the parliamentary elections was a political game. Fortunately, contrary to the aspirations of those in power and the use of the institutions of the state, we continue to live in a free country, and as Poles, we did not get caught up in this game.

Watch the EFF’s referendum spots on our YouTube channel and learn more about the campaign at www.oreferendum.pl.

Artykuł EFF’s successful campaign against the populist referendum pochodzi z serwisu Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej.

EFF’s second anniversary

FWG — Sun, 18 Jun 2023 12:59:38 +0000

EFF’s second anniversary

Autor: FWG

The second anniversary of the Economic Freedom Foundation was commemorated at a gathering held at Press Glass’s headquarters in Konopiska on June 17, 2023. Among representatives of NGOs, entrepreneurs, politicians, academics and journalists, we discussed the role of classical liberal ideas in the election campaign and economic policies that are good for Poland’s development.

Foundation18.06.2023

The meeting was opened with a speech by Arkadiusz Mus, founder of EFF and owner of PRESS GLASS. He emphasised that entrepreneurs need to get involved in public affairs also during the election year. “Sometimes we hear that business should stay away from politics – I disagree. Politics is too important to be left only to politicians and other social groups,” he said. He also criticized crony capitalism – a system in which some businesses try to use their relationship with state power to get privileges or protection from competition in their industry – instead of fighting for economic freedom under the rule of law, which is one of the priorities for the EFF community.

The guests invited to the event touched on important aspects of the state’s functioning that need to be changed in the future. Economist Pawel Wojciechowski pointed out the most important tasks that need to be performed in economic policy. Lawyer Michal Wawrykiewicz from the ”Free Courts” initiative described the battle for the rule of law and pointed out areas that require the most urgent reforms. Politicians – Platforma Obywatelska MP Izabela Leszczyna and Nowoczesna MP Adam Szlapka – also spoke about liberalism, the rule of law, economic policy and creating better conditions for people and companies development.

There were also presented four publications that recently premiered. Fr. Kazimierz Sowa discussed his book ”Niewierni wierni” (“Faithless Believers”) and economist Ryszard Petru presented the premise of the book ”Gospodarka zwycięży” (“The Economy Will Win”). ”Poland’s economic viability index” was presented by Slawomir Dudek, president of the Institute of Public Finance, and Anna Wojciuk of the Inkubator Umowy Społecznej (IUS) organization shared the conclusions of the book “Umówmy się na Polskę,” which contains a new political system proposal for Poland. In addition, Marcin Chmielowski of the Freedom and Entrepreneurship Foundation presented the results of conducted by Stowarzyszenie Libertariańskie survey “Wolność pod lupą”, which shows Poles’ attitudes toward liberalism and in which social groups liberal views are most popular.

The meeting was also an opportunity to summarize another year of EFF activities. In total, the foundation has already supported more than 50 initiatives, in areas such as economic freedom, the rule of law, liberalism, economic education or the introduction of the euro in Poland. We also consistently implement projects such as the “Library of Liberty” and the “Road to Euro” campaign.

Artykuł EFF’s second anniversary pochodzi z serwisu Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej.

Economic Freedom Foundation is looking for interns

FWG — Fri, 01 Apr 2022 07:32:10 +0000

Economic Freedom Foundation is looking for interns

Autor: FWG

Our mission is to invest in the most valuable initiatives for economic freedom and to create a space for cooperation and integration of free market advocates.

Foundation01.04.2022

Responsibilities:

Performing day-to-day tasks for the foundation’s Management Board;
Support in the implementation of projects, organization of events and communication;
Research related to economic and political topics;
Creating databases.

Requirements:

Interest in economics, politics, law or NGOs activities;
Ongoing studies related to areas mentioned above additional advantage;
Knowledge of Excel, Power Point and similar software;
Commitment and reliability;
Very good verbal and written skills in English;
Knowledge of Polish is advantage but not required;
Sharing the Economic Freedom Foundation’s mission and values (see www.wolnagospodarka.info/en)

We offer:

A three-month paid internship with possibility of continued cooperation in the future;
Flexibility in combining internship with studies (20-30 working hours per week);
Work in a new and fast-growing foundation, among people with experience in business and NGOs;
Professional development and learning new skills;
Remuneration based on experience and availability.

Please send CV and a short description why you are interested in this internship to rekrutacja@wolnagospodarka.info by 19.04. We will be in touch with selected people on an ongoing basis. If you have any questions, please contact us by e-mail: rekrutacja@wolnagospodarka.info or +48 885800505.

Klauzula informacyjna przetwarzania danych osobowych w rekrutacji przez Fundację Wolności Gospodarczej:
Informujemy, że:
1. Administratorem Pana/Pani danych osobowych jest Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej z siedzibą przy ul. Rolniczej 1 w Konopiskach, 42-274 Konopiska, tel.: +48 885 800 505, adres e-mail: rekrutacja@wolnagospodarka.info
2. Celem zbierania danych jest przeprowadzenie rekrutacji kandydatów na staż w FWG.
3. Przysługuje Panu/Pani prawo dostępu do treści danych oraz ich sprostowania, usunięcia lub ograniczenia przetwarzania, a także prawo sprzeciwu, zażądania zaprzestania przetwarzania i przenoszenia danych, jak również prawo do cofnięcia zgody w dowolnym momencie oraz prawo do wniesienia skargi do organu nadzorczego, tj. Prezesa Urzędu Ochrony Danych Osobowych.
4. W celu cofnięcia zgody należy skontaktować się z Fundacją Wolności Gospodarczej – dane kontaktowe w pkt 1.
5. Podanie danych jest dobrowolne, lecz niezbędne do realizacji celu, wskazanego w pkt. 2.
6. Dane udostępnione przez Pana/Panią nie będą podlegały udostępnieniu podmiotom trzecim. Odbiorcami danych będą tylko instytucje upoważnione z mocy prawa.
7. Dane udostępnione przez Pana/Panią nie będą podlegały profilowaniu.
8. Administrator danych nie ma zamiaru przekazywać danych osobowych do państwa trzeciego lub organizacji międzynarodowej.
9. Dane kandydatów przechowywane będą przez okres niezbędny do realizacji wyżej określonych celów, tj. do momentu zakończenia rekrutacji, a następnie niezwłocznie usunięte.

Artykuł Economic Freedom Foundation is looking for interns pochodzi z serwisu Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej.

I believe in economic freedom combined with responsibility – Arkadiusz Mus

FWG — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 15:37:02 +0000

I believe in economic freedom combined with responsibility – Arkadiusz Mus

Autor: FWG

I donate part of my money to support non-governmental organizations, the activities of which I consider important and close to my heart – said the founder of the Economic Freedom Foundation.

Foundation , Publication28.02.2022

Arkadiusz Mus, entrepreneur, owner of PRESS GLASS, President of Economic Freedom Foundation. Interview by Witold Gadomski, Gazeta Wyborcza.

According to the “Forbes” monthly magazine you are in 17th place on the list of the richest Poles with assets of PLN 2.8 billion [approx. USD 700 million]. What does the life of such a rich person look like?

– I did not inherit the fortune, but I earned it over 30 years. I started modestly and I needed to recover from the years when I had to tighten my belt.

I own my own jet, live in a big house, have my own golf course, probably the best in Poland, travel a lot for business and pleasure. Apart from my main business, I have a company which rents and services airplanes for entrepreneurs.

I donate part of my money to support non-governmental organizations, the activities of which I consider important and close to my heart.

Do you conduct business while playing golf?

– Business is done at the office, golf is my passion. I started 25 years ago in Międzyzdroje. A colleague who used to work in the US showed me the golf course, and when I, a man brought up in the countryside, saw this 60-hectare meadow, I immediately fell in love.

Your daughter pilots helicopters. Is that her profession or hobby?

– When I want to impress someone, I talk about my daughter because all my achievements pale in comparison to hers. Since the age of five she has been jumping on horses; she has always liked extreme challenges. On her fifteenth birthday, a pilot talked her into flying in a helicopter. They soared and he let her steer. She is crazy about flying. She has a license for five types of helicopters. There is no other person of her age in Europe with such flying experience. She works professionally as an instructor and as a full-time pilot in my company with a solid salary that pilots are entitled to. She also flies in airshows and trains helicopter aerobatics.

Do you come from a rich family?

– My father was a bricklayer, my mother a housewife. They also had a greenhouse, so they had to live off something in the winter. My father only did construction for six-seven months a year.

Did he have his own business?

– A very small one with two assistants. One of them was me during summer vacations. He never worked in a state owned company; he was always a craftsman, in the positive sense of the word.

Did he give you any property or resources?

– No, because we didn’t have much money. It was an ordinary family, and our only asset was a rather large semi-detached house. My parents gave me an education; I was the only student in the area, which was a great promotion, because in those days studies were not common. And to study law – you really felt important.

Where did the ambition to graduate from university come from?

– In my extended family there were people who had a higher education and were engaged in some business activities. We were an aware and curious family. When we had more money, we went on trips to Czechoslovakia and Hungary. This allowed me to look at the world a bit more broadly, to go beyond the confines of my home town. For my parents, the most important thing was that their son obtain a good profession, and they pushed me to go to the polytechnic. I attended a technical secondary school for construction, specializing in road and vehicular bridge construction. So the Polytechnic in Częstochowa would have been the most natural choice. But I am not a mathematician, I am more of a humanities person, and a friend who studied law said that it was cool.

What year was that?

– I started studying in 1983.

After technical secondary school it must have been difficult to get into law studies?

– I failed the first time. I was deficient in geography, history and Russian. I had to get tutoring. The second time I got in, extra points for my origin helped [in many communist countries extra points were given for applicants from the countryside – editor]. I wanted to apply for a lawyer traineeship, but law professions were very closed and I was from nowhere. And I was not a top student.

Were you involved in the opposition?

– No, I was far from Solidarity. I didn’t experience it. I didn’t sleep on Styrofoam, and I didn’t even have the opportunity.

Liberal circles were developing dynamically in Wrocław in the 1980s.

– I studied in Katowice and I don’t think there were many liberals there. In any case, I didn’t meet with this milieu then.

But you became a prosecutor.

– It was a very bad time period. I qualified as a prosecutor in 1989 and worked until 1991. There was a high turnover. After the change of power many people left, and these were the coolest, most collegial ones. At that time I didn’t judge them because of their past and I don’t know in what trials they had participated. But there were a few whom I liked left, and I took over their responsibilities. Those who remained, and they were smart, started making money by taking advantage of the market economy. My salary at the prosecutor’s office was USD 20, and I saw people around who had piles of German Deutsche Marks. They traded all sorts of things, they cared little about their work.

I went to the prosecutor’s office as an idealist. I dreamt that I would fix the world, that I would be a sheriff right out of an American movie. Unfortunately, in contact with reality, the ideas failed. The work was burdensome, there was a lot of uncertainty around, dealing with policemen, militiamen, systems, arrangements, deals. After two years I resigned and went into business.

Do you remember the cases you dealt with as a prosecutor?

– Petty crimes and criminal cases.

Did you have an idea for the business right away?

– While I was still working in the prosecutor’s office, I opened a business for my wife. Wholesale food products. We would start work at 4-5 a.m., then at 9 a.m. I would go to the prosecutor’s office, work until 2 p.m., and then back to the warehouse in the evening. My father-in-law was the manager of the agricultural cooperative. This made the business easier.

Finally, I left the prosecutor’s office and in February 1992 I took over a bankrupt company producing insulated glass, founded by a Swede, which employed a few workers. Someone in the family was making windows at the time and I knew there was a demand for such glass. I said goodbye to trading with no regrets, I don’t have a keen eye for sales.

Why did Swede get rid of the company?

– He didn’t have enough money for current operations. It was the beginning of the 1990s and at that time there was such a business model: someone brought machines from Germany worth 5 thousand Deutsche Marks, the brother-in-law’s appraiser estimated their value in the bank at 100 thousand, the bank gave him a 50 thousand loan, and the company went bankrupt. You could say these were the start-ups of the time. I don’t want to say that the Swede’s idea was exactly like that, in any case, the production didn’t work very well, but I succeeded. I leased these machines, in deplorable shape, arranged in a technological line in a hall that used to be a bath house for miners. The whole plant was 500 square meters and employed a few people. I had no raw material to produce and no knowledge of how to produce.

And did you have money to start up?

– I borrowed from all of my family, friends and from exchange offices to pay the first installment – 100 thousand Deutsche Marks. I had 20 thousand Deutsche Marks saved up from the wholesalers. I took a loan from a bank against the collateral of my apartment. I borrowed from several exchange offices, from the first, the second, the third, and what I borrowed from the fourth I paid back to the first. This worked for several years. The debts were huge, but I paid them back. My father instilled reliability in me. Honesty is a fundamental value for me. Many times I owed people money, but I was never late in paying them back. For 10 years I worked six-seven days a week, 12 hours non-stop. That was the first reason for my success. Apart from that, the demand for insulated glass was huge and there were not many such factories in Poland. Some people tried to bribe me to get this glass, the price was not important.

And who taught you this?

– I don’t know much about technology until now. I had other tasks. For example, I had to get 2,000 Deutsche Marks for customs duty overnight. The technology at the beginning was simple. Today it is out of this world. In 1994 I could buy an 1800 sq. m hall in Nowa Wies for PLN 200 thousand. I took a loan and bought it from the trustee in installments. The dynamics were enormous. At the beginning we started one shift, in a month the second one, and the next month the third one. We worked 24 hours a day, six or seven days a week. In the first year we made sales of PLN 2.5 million, in the second PLN 7.5 million, and in the third over PLN 14 million. And employment was growing fast. In the mid-1990s the British concern Pilkington took over the window glass factory in Sandomierz. They were looking for customers, someone like my company. They started glass production and couldn’t stop it, so they sold glass with deferred payment for a year. That was another source of my success. I was able to turn over money for a year, which was a relief given the high inflation rate at the time. Those were the days. Money was made fast and sometimes lost even faster.

Let me tell you an anecdote. I went to the Austrian company LiSEC to buy machinery. It is a global company that develops and manufactures systems for cutting and sorting glass. We negotiated for two days and finally came to an agreement. I said, everything is great, I just don’t have the money. They trusted me and agreed to postpone payment. I seized the moment. In the 1990s all the companies wanted to enter Poland very eagerly, and in Poland nobody had any money.

Why did they trust you in particular?

– I was not a liar, I did not show any exaggerated business plans, I just explained that the market for insulated glass in Poland was growing dynamically, and so were my sales, so I would be able to pay off the machines. At that time everyone brought old machines from the West, while the equipment I bought was new, which ensured quality. We had a much higher productivity. So again, we were ahead of the competition. Then I invested in other equipment and subsequent investments made it possible not only to increase production, but also to raise quality. I imposed new standards on the market and the competitors could not keep up.

Who were the customers for insulated glass?

– At first Stolbuds, which were state-owned window factories. They had poor machinery and were slowly going bankrupt. Some were taken over by foreign companies. Private window manufacturing companies were also established. Today, 10 to 15 percent have survived, while the rest have gone bankrupt.

When did you decide to sell glass abroad?

– The breakthrough came in 2004. We started exporting to Scandinavia. In Poland glass cost EUR 10, there EUR 40. We never competed on price. Our prices were attractive, but lower than those of Swedish producers by 10-15 percent. We respected each other very much, we wanted to show that we were not a cheap supplier, but a supplier of good quality products. What mattered was service and punctuality. This is what the Swedes taught us.

Journalists sometimes ask what the European Union accession brought us. Everyone says: open market, no borders. Well, not only. The most important thing for me was to have contact with western entrepreneurs and managers who taught us a new way of thinking about business, ethics, civility, negotiating. We learned this from the Swedes, Germans and Austrians. The fact that we could sell to the large EU market was important, but without these lessons, which we got for free, we would not have succeeded.

Could you give an example of such a clash with a different business culture?

– Western entrepreneurs had no time for meetings. Polish ones then had to meet every two weeks and were constantly changing arrangements, prices, delivery dates. For western entrepreneurs or managers, what was agreed once was then sacred. The western partner wanted to sign a contract with us for a long time, but we had to keep to all the agreed conditions. We all had to learn to abide by the rules, starting with the simplest ones: if we make an appointment for seven o’clock, we don’t make it for quarter after seven or quarter to seven, because that’s better.

Did you do any further training, study for an MBA?

– No. I graduated from law school, and then I learned business and management in practice. One of the defects that I never got rid of was the complex of a Pole in relation with my western business partners and I wanted to fight it. I was very impressed by people who had big companies and ran international businesses. I learned a lot, I watched, I listened, I was open to knowledge. Poles usually know better. I think I know less.

We have many friends in Sweden and Germany who still wish us well despite the government’s anti-EU propaganda. When they saw that I was listening to them, they shared their knowledge and were happy to be my mentors. I remember what my friend in Germany told me: “Arek, if you build a business model based on the lowest prices, someone will always be cheaper than you. You have to have the best suppliers, the best raw materials, have a great product at a good price. Then you will stand out.”

And what could they learn from you?

– …a wild imagination and maybe the ability to make quick decisions.

Did you have problems finding employees?

– Not in the ’90s, because there was a lot of unemployment. I also have a good eye for people. I hire many young people after graduation. Even in recent times, when manpower starts is starting to be scarce, we have never had a problem with it.

What are the salaries like?

– I try to pay 10-15 percent more than the average around the plant. We have 14 plants around the world and of course they vary in terms of wages. But we always pay a little higher than others. Once or twice a year we examine that. Of course, there will always be malcontents or those who think they should earn more. I learned discipline at home, I was brought up according to classical liberal principles. The invisible hand of the market has always kept me upright. I also demand discipline and honesty from my employees. I explain that we want to pay more, but we also demand more. Not everybody likes that. Some people prefer to earn 20 percent less, but not to be asked to do too much. Over 30 years, we have replaced several key employees.

Is there a trade union?

– No.

Do you not value unions?

– I do not. There was a different role for unions in the 19th century, in the 20th century, and today. I think that they are completely unnecessary. A good entrepreneur, the owner of a plant, is the best representative of the interests of workers. If they want to build a company in the long term, they have to understand the interests of employees and go out to meet them.

For this there is no need for any trade unions, which often destroy energy in workplaces and are an unnecessary cost. No union in a private, ethical company is necessary. And a company where a union would be useful will sooner or later cease to exist anyway. Trade unions are strong in state-owned companies that are poorly adapted to market rules, in companies where nepotism is rampant.

There are also labor disputes in large corporations, such as Amazon. mBank sacked a union activist on disciplinary grounds. Do you support such actions?

– There are many disputes that arise not only from the fault of the employer. Many times the employee is at fault. Each case should be considered on an individual basis.

And the observance of the labor code?

– This is the role of the National Labor Inspectorate, the court and the employees themselves, who today are well educated in matters concerning the Labor Code. An employer cannot violate employees’ rights with impunity. Many times the employer offers the employees much more than it is stipulated in the labor code. Companies compete for employees, offering various bonuses that are not provided for in the code, additional health insurance, special vacations, excellent conditions in the office and other non-wage benefits. The free market is essential not only for businesses, but also for employees, because competition creates valuable, well-paying jobs.

You said that the current technologies used by your companies are “out of this world”. What is so modern about them?

– We rely heavily on automation and robotization. We develop technologies together with our machine suppliers. This is one of the elements of our future competitive advantage. In this way, we increase production efficiency and reduce the number of errors. Each of our new plants draws on the experience of our predecessors; even small improvements make a difference. We have demanding customers who appreciate our efforts to improve product quality.

Where do you get new technologies from?

– I have very good contacts with suppliers. Now it is us, producers, who create technologies, because machine suppliers have no sense of the market, trends, what should be changed, whether the panes should be larger or smaller.

How did it happen that you began to produce your glass abroad?

– I came to the conclusion that it is not economically viable to create large centers from which customers throughout Europe would be supplied. It is better to establish plants in different countries. Croatia joined the EU in 2013 and we built our first foreign plant there in 2014. We supplied a lot of goods to that market, and they required punctuality and the quick handling of complaints. In December 2014, we established a second overseas company, Press Glass UK Ltd, responsible for developing sales of façade glass and interior glass structures in the UK. In 2015, we bought 100% of the shares of companies belonging to the Glass Systems group, which had four factories in Britain. In June 2016, a subsidiary was established in the U.S., which bought a minority stake in Heliotrope Technologies Inc. a company developing technologies related to the production of smart glass. In 2017, our U.K. company acquired two Pilkington plants, in Cumbernauld and Barnsley, and the U.S. company bought 100 percent of the share capital of Stoneville-based Glass Dynamics Inc. which specializes in façade glass. In 2019, a second U.S. facility was established in Ridgeway, just across the Virginia/North Carolina border. This year, we began construction on our newest and newest plant in Kaunas, Lithuania.

What I’m going to say is not very politically correct, but Brexit has helped us a lot in the UK because we’re an absolute leader there. To be clear, I am not in favor of countries leaving the European Union. The Union offers access to the common market and many other non-financial benefits, especially for countries like Poland. But from the point of view of my business, Brexit has been beneficial for now. Whether it will be so for the UK, we will probably find out in a few years.

How do you do business in the US?

– On the border of Virginia and North Carolina, where our facilities are located, 20 years ago there were many furniture and tobacco manufacturers. Furniture production has moved to China and tobacco sales have declined. It is a region with high unemployment. If anyone thinks the whole United States is like New York, Miami and California, they are very much mistaken. The middle of the United States is not as developed and modern. When the pandemic broke out, we wanted to do remote work, but there were problems with adequate equipment at homes. There are places where Internet access is not so reliable. In that respect, it’s difficult to do business there. The challenge is to find suitably educated people as there are no enough engineers or technicians. Many people have been structurally unemployed for years and are not so mobile. And the US can be bureaucratic. The tax return you have to file at the end of the year is 270 pages long.

So where does their economic success come from?

– They have a huge market, a flexible labor law and a free market economy. They develop very innovative manufacturing in many places. It’s hard to do business there, but once a company is up and running, the profits can be large. Our plants aren’t making them yet, but we’re slowly coming out on top.

The current President, Joe Biden, is criticized by many business owners. There are job postings at many manufacturing plants looking for workers. But many Americans are not economically active due to disincentives created by high social benefits.

Do you think the United States under Biden is heading towards socialism?

– When I talk to American businessmen, indeed many of them believe that so much US debt, excessive regulations and social programs are a recipe for disaster. But let’s remember that for the last few years we were dealing with an unpredictable politician – Donald Trump. So what if many of his ideas about the economy were sensible. Let’s remember that uncertainty, disrespect for the rule of law, and strange international alliances are as inconvenient for business as bad economic policies. Nevertheless, I think President Biden’s economic populism might end badly for America.

Weren’t you tempted to go outside the glass processing industry? Many Polish businessmen, those in the top ten largest, operate in various industries. Sometimes they create conglomerates, they took part in privatizations. You simply make insulated glass units.

– I don’t want to compete with my colleagues. Perhaps I’m also not as capable a businessman as others who can embrace several completely different industries. I think glass is a good business. We make pretty good money, we have incredible growth opportunities, the right people. I don’t think my life will change if I make another PLN 100 million. I am also involved in many civil society activities and I don’t have time for everything. For me, having an impact on reality is more important than climbing up the list of the richest people and taking a seat on another supervisory board.

When did you realize that you are a classical liberal?

– I have always believed in economic freedom, individual freedom, combined with responsibility. I believed that you have to take matters into your own hands, take everything into your own hands. I think these are the genes of a true liberal and my attitude is not the result of reading. In my youth I didn’t read any books by Hayek, Mill or Friedman. Now I am catching up. When the opportunity to cooperate with Leszek Balcerowicz arose, after I met Andrzej Olechowski, I knew that I was closer to these people than to the left. I always voted for those parties that were more liberal and pro-market: Kongres Liberalno-Demokratyczny (Liberal-Democratic Congress), Unia Wolności (Freedom Union), Platformę Obywatelską (Civic Platform), and Nowoczesna (Modern).

The current government has incredibly increased state involvement in the economy. Several banks have been nationalized, and a huge oil company is to be formed from the merger of two state-owned companies.

– Statism, which took place in the last six years, set the Polish society, including young people, back not by years but by a whole epoch in terms of thinking about the economy and development. I am not an enemy of the state, let alone an anarchist. I believe that the role of the state should be as big as necessary, but as small as possible. I am in favor of an efficient, strong state, limited to the tasks for which it was established: foreign policy, maintenance of security, functioning of the judiciary, creation and enforcement of the basic legal framework.

Do you see growing inequality? Do you have an antidote on how to counteract it?

– The most important way to eliminate them may be to equalize access to education, to acquire qualifications. There is no egalitarian society where everyone is young, beautiful and rich. Some are sick, others red or bald, some have nice kids, others not so nice. We will not equate Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos with someone who works on the shop floor or is a truck driver. We should expect the state to provide access to universal education as part of its commitment to equal opportunity and to prevent discrimination against certain groups.

However, it is possible to equalize income somewhat through the tax system. In simple terms – take more away from the rich and give to the poor in the form of benefits or tax breaks.

– The poor will not become less poor by taking from the rich. There is, of course, the Scandinavian model, where taxes are high and, consequently, the state has high spending. But those are countries that are much richer than Poland, where many state actions are less politicized and more responsible. In our country copying such a model could give completely different results. Besides, even before the expansion of social spending, the Scandinavian countries achieved great progress in improving the living conditions of their people. Poland should first focus on development and let the entrepreneurial and hard-working people prove themselves by treating them as a value and not as an enemy. In the current situation, we have no guarantee that our state will actually provide us with better public services when it gets more money.

In Scandinavia, in addition to high taxes, we have a higher level of economic freedom, the rule of law, openness to the world, a more flexible labor market – all of these things make it easier for entrepreneurs to operate. The level of taxes alone does not determine the conditions for business. In Luxembourg, corporate income tax is 25% and in Romania 10%, but everyone registers holdings not in Romania but in Luxembourg. Polish entrepreneurs are moving their companies to Luxembourg because of the stability and legal certainty.

Polish politicians boast that Polish taxes are lower than in England or Austria, but many of the richest Poles prefer to pay abroad.

– In Poland, the certainty of making and enforcing laws has been ruined. For this reason, among others, some businessmen prefer to register companies abroad and pay taxes there. Many of the largest ones left long ago, now I observe that the medium-sized ones are leaving. This drain of medium-sized business is unbelievable. They are not looking for lower taxes, because there are no such taxes anywhere anymore, but for stability of the law.

What bothers you about our tax system?

– Complexity, bureaucracy and frequent changes. There are countries where it is even worse, but we should follow the best. Even the tax administration cannot keep up with the constant changes that are introduced in our tax system. The result is chaos, which leads to uncertainty. The best example is the “Polish Deal” [big tax changes introduced in a hurry and with many errors by the end of 2021 – editor], which was introduced at an expeditious pace, without sufficient consultations with employers’ associations.

What is ethics for entrepreneurs? Is it an empty slogan, an element of publicity or a road sign?

– It should be a road sign, not only because morality is a value in itself, but also because of the business strategy. 30 years ago it was easier for unethical people to do business. But the situation has changed dramatically. Today, unethical people are eliminated from business. They are being verified by the free market and business rules in the EU. They cannot count on regular suppliers or customers, they cannot acquire capital cheaply, they do not have a network of friendly entrepreneurs to whom they could turn for help. Of course, as everywhere, there are crooks, but they can make one or two jumps and not function stably.

You sponsored the publication in Poland of Charles Koch’s book “Good Profit”. After it was published, a journalist from “Wyborcza” described Koch’s business dealings, focusing on actions that were at least ethically ambiguous. For example, a Senate investigative committee found that Koch Industries illegally exploited oil beneath the territories of indigenous Indians and underreported toxic gas emissions. Koch is a great businessman, but is the businessman ethical?

– Charles Koch started as a businessman in 1961, which means he has been one for 60 years. Name anyone who in that time hasn’t intentionally or unintentionally infringed some standard. As a lawyer, I stick to the rule – until I know the case file, I don’t pass judgment. I don’t know if the author has read the Koch cases that thoroughly. I won’t bet the farm that Charles Koch acted entirely properly throughout his long and successful business career, but you have to be objective when evaluating entrepreneurs who built great companies, who operated in certain conditions, who had to adapt to changing situations, who had to deal with competition. I believe that if we made a comprehensive and reliable assessment of this outstanding entrepreneur, the result would be very positive.

Should the state interfere when a company gets too big – as in the case of Facebook, Google, and once John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Trust? Rockefeller?

– Each such case should be considered on an individual basis – there is no single definition of company that is “too big”. It is important that the state does not restrict the entry and growth of companies with excessive regulations, so that new or smaller companies can compete with larger ones. Consumers are much better arbiters in the market than the state, which sometimes itself creates state monopolies and prevents competition in some areas.

It is sometimes said that Poles are an enterprising nation. Is it true or a myth?

– Polish entrepreneurs are nice, but we are not a chosen people. There was and is certainly no world-class entrepreneur among Poles, and after 30 years since the transformation, with such a large market, there should be. However, I hope that they will appear in the nearest future. Polish entrepreneurship is local, we have not learned the global way of thinking. Maybe because we are first generation entrepreneurs. I will not diminish my achievements. We are building another plant in Lithuania, we are expanding in England, in Poland we bought 15 hectares of land and we will build a new, very modern plant. I am a big businessman, but not on the scale of the biggest ones in the world.

Why do you engage in social initiatives? You sponsor liberal initiatives, you founded the Economic Freedom Foundation. These are exceptional activities among entrepreneurs. Many establish charitable foundations, whose task is also to improve their image. But you entered the vestibule of politics.

– I am a patriot and I care very much about this country. I believe in such values as freedom, openness, education, European integration. I have a lot of potential, I have achieved success in business, I have some time and gene to share with others. It is not a small thing that I am a classical liberal. Statism, which has been spreading for six years, and megalomania of those in power made me rebel. I could have accepted the situation and lived comfortably, but I decided to fight for the ideas close to my heart. I am very worried about Poland, about what is happening now. The country’s reputation is ruined. Entrepreneurs who are open-minded, creative people are leaving Poland. They are pissed off at the Polish government. We received incredible support from the European Union, and now we’re spitting on it. This is destroying the achievements of the past 30 years. I can see in the eyes of our western partners that they are losing patience with Poland. They helped us and we didn’t appreciate it. If we don’t change this, we won’t dig ourselves out for several decades.

Aren’t you afraid that social activity will harm business?

– No, I have great people in my company out of college that I trained, and they run the business on an ongoing basis.

The state has many ways to harm business.

– My business does not depend on relationships with state-owned companies. I don’t have any state suppliers or customers.

But there is the tax office, which can be disruptive with its constant inspections.

– I am an honest, hard-working entrepreneur. If such people start to be afraid, it means that democracy has come to an end and the state has become authoritarian.

* Arkadiusz Muś – born in 1962, he graduated from the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia and has a Master’s degree in law. He started his business activity in 1992 by founding PRESS GLASS, of which he is the sole shareholder, and which he developed into a European leader in the processing of glass for the construction industry. At present PRESS GLASS owns 14 plants: in Poland, Croatia, Great Britain and the USA, and employs a total of 4.7 thousand employees. He is also a shareholder and member of the Supervisory Board of Euroglas Polska, a partner of Swiss Glas Trösch Holding AG, and a shareholder of AMC Aviation.

Since 2010 he has been a Board Member of the Civil Development Forum (FOR), a think-tank founded by Professor Leszek Balcerowicz. He is also a member of the Economic Council – the Team of Economic Advisors to the Speaker of the Polish Senate, as well as a member of the Trilateral Commission.

He owns an 18-hole championship class golf course Rosa Private Golf Club in Konopiska, near Czestochowa.

Artykuł I believe in economic freedom combined with responsibility – Arkadiusz Mus pochodzi z serwisu Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej.

Economic Freedom Foundation Registered

FWG — Thu, 01 Jul 2021 13:28:12 +0000

Economic Freedom Foundation Registered

Autor: FWG

On July 1, 2021, the Economic Freedom Foundation was officially registered. The Economic Freedom Foundation strives to make Poland a prosperous and open country where people enjoy a high level of economic freedom and other individual liberties. Our mission is to invest in the most valuable initiatives for economic freedom and to create a space for cooperation and integration of free market advocates.

Foundation01.07.2021

The Founder and President of the Economic Freedom Foundation is the entrepreneur Arkadiusz Muś, the owner and President of the Board of PRESS GLASS. Marek Tatała, who so far has been associated with the Civil Development Forum (FOR), has become the Vice President and CEO of the new foundation. The chairman of the Foundation’s Board is Błazej Moder, and other Board Members include Jakub Karnowski, Maria Muś and Agata Stremecka.

We encourage you to observe the activities of the Economic Freedom Foundation in our four focus areas: Economic Freedom, Education for the Future, Poland in the European Union and Rule of Law.

Artykuł Economic Freedom Foundation Registered pochodzi z serwisu Fundacja Wolności Gospodarczej.