Photo: Professor Stephanie Fahey, Deputy Vice-Chancellor International, Professor Leszek Balcerowicz, Professor Pascaline Winand, Director - Monash European and EU Centre (MEEUC).

GSB host former Deputy Prime Minister of Poland

The Graduate School of Business (GSB) and the Monash European and EU Centre (MEEUC) recently hosted eminent Polish economist and economic reformer Professor Leszek Balcerowicz, architect of Poland's economic reforms. Professor Balcerowicz, a former Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance gave a presentation on the European Union and economic growth.

“The importance of this event demonstrates the real advantage of Monash University engaging with the outside community on a governmental level. It provides a forum to change ideas and build a network for ongoing research and refining ideas. The forum was well attended by postgraduate students from various disciplines and was a great opportunity for academics and students to exchange ideas,” Dr Susan Freeman, Associate Director of the Monash European and EU Centre said.

Dr Freeman organised the event in cooperation with the President of the Australian Institute of Polish Affairs, Adam Warzel and the Monash European and EU Centre.

Professor Balcerowicz is a Professor of Economics at the Warsaw School of Economics (WSE) and former President of the National Bank of Poland (NBP). He has been at the center of Poland's economic and political life since the fall of communism in Poland in 1989.

In September 1989 he became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the first non‐communist government in Poland after the Second World War. In this vital period in Poland's transition he designed and executed the radical stabilisation and transformation of the Polish economy. He retained his positions in government until December 1991.

He is the author of more than a 100 publications on economic issues in Poland and abroad and the recipient of numerous honours and awards from universities worldwide. In 2005 he was awarded with Poland's highest decoration ‐ the Order of the White Eagle ‐ for his contribution to the system transformation.

Professor Balcerowicz addressed a targeted audience with a particular interest about the European Union and its member states. He focused on the mechanisms related to the functioning of the EU that are conducive to the long-term economic growth of its members.

“Professor Balcerowicz is a true public intellectual in every sense of the word. In addition to publishing a large volume of papers and making a significant contribution to Polish civic life, in the late 1980s and early 1990s Professor Balcerowicz oversaw economic reforms of historical importance in Poland. The 'Balcerowicz Plan' was the blueprint for economic reform not just in Poland, but in much of Central and Eastern Europe and while controversial at the time, ultimately proved correct,” Professor Russell Smyth, Deputy Head for the Department of Economics said.

Professor Balcerowicz indicated that he was very impressed with the quality of questions put to him by many Graduate School of Business, European Studies masters and PhD students from Faculties of Business and Economics and Arts who listened to his presentation.

His Excellency Mr. Bruno Julien, Ambassador and Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Australia and New Zealand, attended the event.