Poland as Number One

Poland is the Cinderella of the world economy. A ruin of decayed communism 20 years ago, Poland by the late 90s was among Europe's fastest growing economies. In 2009 it was the only European economy to register growth.

What accounts for this miracle is inspired leadership, bold action, and persistence in implementing rigorous market based reforms.

It's easy to forget how bad things were in Poland in 1989. In the months before the Berlin Wall came down, Poland's chaotic command economy imploded. Shortages were rampant. There was hyperinflation. Led by the Solidarity trade union, people were in revolt. Forced to agree to Poland's first free elections in 40 years, the Communists lost and an elected non-Communist government took over. It was a tense and dangerous time where wild optimism was balanced by fear of Soviet intervention.

Read more:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barry-d-wood/poland-as-number-one_b_446408.html