Poland in the shadow of poverty? Millions of Poles are becoming poorer.
In 2023, the problem of social exclusion in Poland has become one of the most serious social challenges. The data is alarming and shows that thousands of people struggle every day to meet their basic needs. The latest report from the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN Poland), known as Poverty Watch, indicates that around 2.5 million Poles live below the minimum subsistence level, and as many as 17.3 million people face daily difficulties, remaining below the social minimum. So many people live today in conditions that do not provide basic stability, and the forecasts for the future are not better.
Reading this report, one can see how the gap between those who are doing better and those who are forced to fight for survival is widening. Families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities are experiencing particularly difficult situations, as they are the most vulnerable to the effects of poverty. In recent years, this problem has been steadily increasing, and now, in the face of rampant inflation and the lack of appropriate increases in social benefits, extreme poverty is affecting an increasing number of Poles. It is hard to imagine that so many people in our country live in conditions that do not even allow them to meet their basic needs.
Why do Poles have no savings?
It is worth considering why so many Poles are not prepared for tougher times. It turns out that one of the main reasons is the lack of basic financial education. In Poland, there is still little discussion about how to manage a household budget, how to save for the future, or what to invest in. Many people do not realize how important it is to have savings that could serve as a "safety cushion" in crisis situations, such as rising living costs or job loss.
Why is this happening? Partly to blame is the system that instills in us that consumption is something natural and desirable. In the media, advertisements, and even in everyday life, we constantly hear that it is worth spending money on new products, using consumer loans, or buying to keep up with trends. All of this creates an illusion of prosperity, suggesting that what matters is here and now, that meeting current needs is more important than saving for the future. As a result, many people live "from month to month," without any savings, which in times of crisis leads to exclusion and poverty.
Some may say that everyone should take care of their finances, but the reality is not that simple. Our attitude towards money, consumption, and saving is shaped over the years – by culture, the education system, and economic policy. The current financial system and the lack of support from educational institutions mean that many people are unaware of how important it is to secure their finances for the future.
What actions should be taken to reduce social exclusion?
In this situation, EAPN Poland points to the need for actions that will help reduce social exclusion and poverty. The report contains specific recommendations regarding social policy that could serve as a foundation for implementing real changes. One of the proposed solutions is housing with services and support for those most in need. Such initiatives can provide stabilization and security for people who find themselves in difficult life situations, enabling them to live with dignity and gradually emerge from poverty.
But this is only part of the solution. To effectively combat the problem of poverty and exclusion in the long term, we must invest in financial education. Educational programs are needed that will teach Poles in an accessible way how to manage their finances, how to save, invest, and how to build financial stability for the future. Without such education, even the best assistance programs will not be able to ensure lasting improvement.
The current crisis shows that Poland faces a great challenge. Extreme poverty and social exclusion are becoming everyday realities for millions of people who struggle every day with rising living costs and a lack of prospects for improving their situation. But this is not a problem we can ignore. If we want the situation of Poles to improve, we must start thinking about finances differently – we must appreciate the importance of saving, financial stability, and responsible budget management.
Poland needs both systemic reforms and a change in the approach to financial education. We must remember that only when our society has a solid foundation of financial knowledge and an awareness of the necessity of saving will it be able to effectively combat the growing social exclusion. Only joint efforts – from the government, non-governmental organizations, and all of us – can ensure that Poles are better prepared for the future and that our country becomes a place where poverty ceases to be such a serious threat to citizens.
https://www.eapn.org.pl/poverty-watch/
In 2023, the problem of social exclusion in Poland has become one of the most serious social challenges. The data is alarming and shows that thousands of people struggle every day to meet their basic needs. The latest report from the European Anti-Poverty Network (EAPN Poland), known as Poverty Watch, indicates that around 2.5 million Poles live below the minimum subsistence level, and as many as 17.3 million people face daily difficulties, remaining below the social minimum. So many people live today in conditions that do not provide basic stability, and the forecasts for the future are not better.
Reading this report, one can see how the gap between those who are doing better and those who are forced to fight for survival is widening. Families with children, seniors, and people with disabilities are experiencing particularly difficult situations, as they are the most vulnerable to the effects of poverty. In recent years, this problem has been steadily increasing, and now, in the face of rampant inflation and the lack of appropriate increases in social benefits, extreme poverty is affecting an increasing number of Poles. It is hard to imagine that so many people in our country live in conditions that do not even allow them to meet their basic needs.
Why do Poles have no savings?
It is worth considering why so many Poles are not prepared for tougher times. It turns out that one of the main reasons is the lack of basic financial education. In Poland, there is still little discussion about how to manage a household budget, how to save for the future, or what to invest in. Many people do not realize how important it is to have savings that could serve as a "safety cushion" in crisis situations, such as rising living costs or job loss.
Why is this happening? Partly to blame is the system that instills in us that consumption is something natural and desirable. In the media, advertisements, and even in everyday life, we constantly hear that it is worth spending money on new products, using consumer loans, or buying to keep up with trends. All of this creates an illusion of prosperity, suggesting that what matters is here and now, that meeting current needs is more important than saving for the future. As a result, many people live "from month to month," without any savings, which in times of crisis leads to exclusion and poverty.
Some may say that everyone should take care of their finances, but the reality is not that simple. Our attitude towards money, consumption, and saving is shaped over the years – by culture, the education system, and economic policy. The current financial system and the lack of support from educational institutions mean that many people are unaware of how important it is to secure their finances for the future.
What actions should be taken to reduce social exclusion?
In this situation, EAPN Poland points to the need for actions that will help reduce social exclusion and poverty. The report contains specific recommendations regarding social policy that could serve as a foundation for implementing real changes. One of the proposed solutions is housing with services and support for those most in need. Such initiatives can provide stabilization and security for people who find themselves in difficult life situations, enabling them to live with dignity and gradually emerge from poverty.
But this is only part of the solution. To effectively combat the problem of poverty and exclusion in the long term, we must invest in financial education. Educational programs are needed that will teach Poles in an accessible way how to manage their finances, how to save, invest, and how to build financial stability for the future. Without such education, even the best assistance programs will not be able to ensure lasting improvement.
The current crisis shows that Poland faces a great challenge. Extreme poverty and social exclusion are becoming everyday realities for millions of people who struggle every day with rising living costs and a lack of prospects for improving their situation. But this is not a problem we can ignore. If we want the situation of Poles to improve, we must start thinking about finances differently – we must appreciate the importance of saving, financial stability, and responsible budget management.
Poland needs both systemic reforms and a change in the approach to financial education. We must remember that only when our society has a solid foundation of financial knowledge and an awareness of the necessity of saving will it be able to effectively combat the growing social exclusion. Only joint efforts – from the government, non-governmental organizations, and all of us – can ensure that Poles are better prepared for the future and that our country becomes a place where poverty ceases to be such a serious threat to citizens.
https://www.eapn.org.pl/poverty-watch/
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