An economist, a Professor at the Warsaw School of Economics, Former President of the National Bank of Poland and Former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance in the first non-communist Polish Government after the Second World War. The 31st December 2009 marked the 20th anniversary of the "Balcerowicz Plan". Among other things, the reforms provided for the privatization and restructuring of some state-owned enterprises, as well as for the exchangeability of the Polish zloty and the standardization of taxes. They abolished the state's monopoly in international trade and allowed foreign businesses and individuals to invest in Poland. The reforms introduced by Leszek Balcerowicz in 1989 became a foundation on which a strong free market economy was built. In 2009, Poland was the only European Union member to experience a positive economic growth. Results, lessons, and prospects. (From 22 February 2010) Less