Electronic Journal of Polish Agricultural Universities (EJPAU) founded by all Polish Agriculture Universities presents original papers and review articles relevant to all aspects of agricultural sciences. It is target for persons working both in science and industry,regulatory agencies or teaching in agricultural sector. Covered by IFIS Publishing (Food Science and Technology Abstracts), ELSEVIER Science - Food Science and Technology Program, CAS USA (Chemical Abstracts), CABI Publishing UK and ALPSP (Association of Learned and Professional Society Publisher - full membership). Presented in the Master List of Thomson ISI.

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Wrzesińska J. 2010. CHANGES IN TRADE SECTOR AFTER SYSTEMIC TRANSFORMATION IN POLAND, EJPAU 13(3/volume13), #05.
Available Online: http://www.ejpau.media.pl/volume13/issue3/volume13/abs-05.html

ABSTRACT

In Poland in the nineties, after the creation of conditions that allowed the mechanisms of a market economy to function, profound structural changes took place. At the forefront of these changes there was trade sector, which was already in 94% privatised in 1990 and by 2008 almost in 100%. During the first period of socio-economic transformation the central pricing of most goods and services was abolished and grants and subsidies for production were eliminated. The conditions of the market economy allowed small medium and large shops (in terms of area as well as capital and employment) for the free entry into and withdrawal from the market.

In initial period of transition of many small trading firms, owned predominantly by domestic private capital were established. The Polish market in the nineties was characterised by high consumer demand and the availability of goods and services from domestic ally produced as well as imported. In urban areas this situation caused a never-before-seen growth of large-sized shops. Since the shortage of domestic capital that could be invested in trading at that time, this gap was filled by foreign capital in the form direct investments of.

This paper attempts to present the most important changes that occurred in the trade sector during the period 1989–2008.

Key words: retail trade, transformation, foreign capital, Poland.

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Joanna Wrzesińska
Department of Economics and Economic Policy,
Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Poland
Nowoursynowska 166, 02-787 Warsaw, Poland
email: joanna_wrzesinska@sggw.pl

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