Impact of Cohesion policy on Poland

Marek W. Kozak University of Warsaw m.kozak@uw.edu.pl Impact of Cohesion policy on Poland Poland has relatively short experience in European policies implementation. Its ability to analyze the effects and modify strategies and implementation following experience-based rule is of particular importance for development pace and path. There is a number of ways of evaluating impacts of public intervention. In case of Cohesion policy and their key instruments (that is structural funds and Cohesion fund), it is important to notice, that in 2007 two structural funds (EAGGF and FIOR) ceased to exist. However, they still do contribute to the impact on Polish economy development, as many other external and internal factors (globalization, global terms of trade, institutional change, mix of national and European policies etc). Up to now richness and interlinkages between factors makes it more than difficult to identify and measure real net impact of specific funds, as their goals and management are - at least in theory - closely coordiated and are being implemented pretty long after formal date of end of financial perspective (due to N+2 and N+3 rules). Even in case of econometric models in use (HERMIN, QUEST and other) problem of net influence measurement exists as they are based mostly on previous performance and a number of assumptions relating to development factors. The aim of this text is to discuss available information (ex-post evaluation, progress reports, scientific publications and other sources) on the Polish case, and, more importantly, to assess whether the impact of Cohesion policy up to now is better visible on the demand or supply side. Main thesis is that the effects of Cohesion policy are mostly restricted to demand side, that is up to now it brings short-and medium-term results rather than impacts (understood as structural change).