Seminar paper from the year 2003 in the subject Business economics - Economic Policy, grade: 1,0 (A), University of Lodz (Department of Entrepreneurship), language: English, abstract: In the following paper I want to pay attention to the SME (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) Sector in Poland. Researches within this Sector are very important, because that sector is the most dynamic in the whole Economy. Entry and Exit Rates of Businesses are about 10 % in the EU (European Union) and are even more in Poland. Noreen Doyle described it as the backbone for a lasting and effective business environment. As well as in the Transitional Period, which will be examined in detail in this paper, as in the accession phase of Poland to become member of EU, the development of the SME Sector will determine the future of Poland to a great extent. After defining this Sector, I will show the development separated in phases since 1980. In the following chapter, I will try to sum up the most important influencing factors for SMEs. Finally, I will consider some specific problems of Poland joining the EU.

In Eastern Europe privatization is now a mass phenomenon. The authors propose a model of it by means of an illustration from the example of Poland, which envisages the free provision of shares in formerly public undertakings to employees and consumers, and the provision of corporate finance from foreign intermediaries. One danger that emerges is that of bureaucratization. On the broader canvas, mass privatization implies the reform of the whole system, the creation of a suitable economic infrastructure for a market economy and the institutions of corporate governance. The authors point out the need for a delicate balance between evolution - which may be too slow - and design - which brings the risk of more government involvement than it is able to manage. A chapter originating as a European Bank working paper explores the banking implications of setting up a totally new financial sector with interlocking classes of assets. The economic effects merge into politics as the role of the state is investigated. Teachers and graduate students of public/private sector economies, East European affairs; advisers to bankers or commercial companies with Eastern European interests.

The main focus of the article is to put on the role of small and medium-sized enterprises in Polish economy. The authors use and examine available statistical data concerning SMEs in Poland. The aim of the paper is to investigate the impact of small and medium-sized enterprises on the Polish economy. The paper analyses the state of the sector of small- and medium-sized enterprises in Poland, seeking to understand the causes of its relative strength and weakness. In particular, the authors examine the question of whether the development of SMEs along the current lines would positively contribution to the sustainable development of the Polish economy. In order to investigate the research problem the two main methods were used. First of all the authors have reviewed the academic literature in search for theoretical background. From the vast literature we have chosen the position characterized by the relevance to the research problem. Secondly we have conducted the analyses of state statistical data. The analyses are based on statistical data available from the Polish Central Statistical Office (GUS).