Public finance 

When adopting last year the act reducing the level of the contribution transferred to Open Pension Funds (OFEs), the government promised another amendment. It was designed to force an increase in competition between the funds, improve their efficiency and reduce management costs. The government failed to keep its promise. This may prove that OFEs are already treated as a temporary solution.

The Government has submitted a draft 2013 budget to the Sejm. With the economic growth planned for 2.2%, revenue is to increase by 2.4% in nominal terms and expenditure by 1.9%, excluding the European funds. Analysis of the figures shows that the Government counts more on the increase in tax revenue rather than on expenditure savings.

At the end of September at the latest, a draft budget for 2013 will be submitted to the Sejm. Due to the economic slowdown, it may be difficult to implement it, but this does not have to be so. The budget has many safes with funds. We have asked Elżbieta Suchocka-Roguska and Halina Wasilewska–Trenkner, authors of many budget drafts, whether it is possible to reach for such funds.

The joy over the record low interest obtained by the Polish government when selling the dollar bonds for USD 2 bn seems justified. Unfortunately, only at first glance.

As far as the changes in pension system are concerned, we may learn the most from the Czechs and Slovaks. Surely, we should make every effort in order to prevent the government from nationalizing funds gathered in the second pillar. Let’s hope Warsaw will not become another Budapest, says Mateusz Guzikowski, Civil Development Forum (FOR) economist.