A report has discovered that Poles are 40% wealthier than they would be if they were not members of the EU.
According to a recent report by the Polish Economic Institute (PIE), Poland's GDP per capita in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) is approximately 40% higher due to its membership in the European Union (EU). PIE utilized the synthetic control method to calculate the benefits of EU membership, finding that Poland's average annual GDP per capita growth between 2004 and 2022 would have been significantly lower outside the EU. Among the eastern EU member states that joined in 2004, Poland ranks second in terms of the premium from EU membership, following Lithuania. PIE attributes the economic development of the region to integration into EU supply chains, which led to increased foreign investment and exports. Over the past two decades, indicators of quality of life have improved significantly in Poland and other countries in the region, including increased life expectancy, higher education levels, and reduced poverty rates. Additionally, analysts at Polish bank Pekao noted that Poland recorded the highest cumulative real GDP growth among the eastern member states that joined the bloc since 2004, with GDP doubling between 2004 and 2022.