Analysts devote themselves to charting its every twist and turn, great minds ponder over its secrets, and yet the economy remains a mysterious thing. All classical sciences are based on "why" questions and economic experts try to follow this route. But often their work proves more fruitful when seemingly limited to simple descriptions. More than anyone, entrepreneurs and managers, specialists in applied economics, live in the real world. They know exactly what to do and how to create future success. Let us not forget about them, especially this year.
The Warsaw Voice's Chair of the Year award this year goes to the economy.
The award is a symbolic representation of a film director's chair. When we launched it some years ago, we assumed it would be awarded to people, institutions, man-made objects and phenomena that have had the greatest influence on the life of Polish people. It is not surprising then that alongside politicians, artists and businesspeople on the list of winners are the Supreme Court's Chamber of Administration, the Warsaw Stock Exchange and the passenger car.
Nineteen years after its first edition, The Warsaw Voice, the longest-running English-language magazine in Poland, is convinced that the economy had the greatest influence on the life of Polish people in 2006.
This year, economic growth was unusually rapid in all areas. It overcame old and new obstacles, always finding a way of reaching its goal. The economy grew despite political turmoil, focusing on the real challenges. Its message to politicians was clear: "I can do more, I can go faster. If you can't help me, at least don't hinder me."
Market analysts sound a triumphant note, or break out in outright exultation, at the main economic indicators: inflation of less than 2 percent, GDP growth of nearly 6 percent and exports up by 20 percent.
Who is responsible for the success of the economy though? Who should be awarded the Chair of the Year honors, certificates and statuettes-produced by Prof. Piotr Gawron of the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts? They go to entrepreneurs and managers, business leaders without whom even the greatest collective effort by employees would result in nothing. Last but not least, there is the Warsaw Stock Exchange, a powerful engine driving the economy.
This year, the awards will be handed out to the WSE president and representatives of all employees' and managers' organizations, drawn together in the largest organization of its type in Poland, the Entrepreneurship Council. Companies represented by the council employ 80 percent of those who work in the Polish economy.
The Warsaw Voice has previously awarded the Chair Of The Year to:
Lech Wałęsa, Leszek Balcerowicz, Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, Hanna Suchocka, the Warsaw Stock Exchange, Hanna Gronkiewicz-Waltz, the Supreme Court's Chamber of Administration, Labor and Social Security, the passenger car, Tadeusz Mazowiecki and Roman Kluska (Chairs of the Decade), Jerzy Buzek, Bronisław Geremek, Aleksander Kwaśniewski, Adam Małysz, Danuta Hübner, Jerzy Hausner, Marek Belka and Rafał Blechacz.
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