3. THE SECOND DECADE
3.1 The year 2000
The year 2000 brought contradictory tendencies within the Polish economy. The negative tendencies observable primarily included a slowdown in economic growth from one quarter to the next, a rising government deficit and mounting unemployment.
As regards positive developments, there are two that deserve particular mention. The first was restoration of control over inflation. The turnaround in inflation was achieved thanks to a sharp tightening of monetary policy, with inflation beginning to tend downwards from August 2000. Slowing down growth in aggregate demand produced another positive effect, namely a narrowing of the current account deficit. This was due to reduced increase in private consumption and investment demand.
The average inflation rose from 7.3 per cent in 1999 to 10.1 per cent in 2000. The inflation accelerated in the final months of 1999 as a result of further growth in domestic demand due to relaxation of macroeconomic policies. The quickening of inflation in the latter half of 1999 was also connected with powerful supply disruptions on the fuel and food markets. The increase in world oil prices triggered 20 per cent rises in domestic fuel prices. Meanwhile, the increase in foodstuff prices was related to poorer agricultural output in 1999, traceable to adverse weather conditions, while at the same time stiff protection against imports was afforded to the domestic market for agricultural produce.
In January 2000, consumer inflation climbed to 10.1 per cent compared to January 1999, thereby hitting double figures for the first time in almost one and a half year. For this reason in February, the Monetary Policy Council decided to raise interest rates. Despite a tougher monetary policy, the inevitable time lag between monetary measures and their impact on inflationary processes meant that for seven months of the year 2000 CPI inflation ran in excess of 10 per cent, peaking in July at 11.6 per cent. To prevent a consolidation of inflation expectations and their spill over into wage growth, the MPC raised interest rate again in August.
The exchange rate regime in Poland changed in 2000. On April 11, the Council of Ministers, acting in consultation with the MPC, took the decision to float the zloty, which signified the abolition of the central parity rate for the zloty, and also the crawling band mechanism to a reference currency basket, with its trading band for permissible deviations in market exchange rates from central parity. The resolution introducing these changes took effect on April 12, 2000. Following the change in the exchange rate regime, the National Bank of Poland continued to refrain from intervention in the currency market. Zloty exchange rates thus ceased to be employed as a monetary policy instrument. In the long run, it is not possible to influence interest rates with a view to achievement of the inflation target while at the same time controlling exchange rates.
Compared to last year the deficit on the current account was reduced by USD 1 591mn to USD 9 978mn. This was due to reduction in the deficit on the trade balance by USD 1 155mn to USD 14 849mn. Exports increased by USD 2 115mn i.e. by 7.1 per cent, while imports increased by only USD 960mn i.e. by 2.1 per cent. Export-growth in 2000 was the result of the following:
External factors: the year 2000 saw the world economy pick up. The increase in global demand led to an expansion of world trade. The global increase in import demand caused demand for Polish export to rise as well.
Internal factors: the positive effects became apparent of export-oriented investment by foreign direct investors, the best example being the launch of the manufacture and export of diesel engines by the ISUZU companies. In addition, domestic demand growth weakened, compelling companies to seek sales markets abroad.
The growth in imports was primarily linked to the higher value of oil imports, a consequence of rising world oil prices.