About FORFOR seeks to achieve its objectives through three types of action: * Analytical research, * Activities in the fields of social communication and education. Analytical research provides diagnoses, opinions, warnings and recommendations on matters consistent with the objectives of FOR. These analytical products are essential basis for other activities of FOR. Activities in the field of social communication aim at maximum transmission of this content to the selected social groups and at reception of feedback responses, important for the analysis and for the communication itself. Communication activities, expressing opinions, warnings and recommendations on concrete proposals in order to increase or reduce their support in the society, refer to a deeper and broader understanding regarding the desired role of the state in society in general and in the economy in particular. Therefore they achieve educational effects at the same time. FOR strives to ensure that - during discussions on specific proposals, or events that focus attention of the media and the public - these effects are maximized, showing deeper aspects of discussed projects and events. In addition, FOR leads educational campaigns in selected communities.The mission of FOR (Civil Development Forum) is to increase active support of the society for a wide range of individual freedoms (especially economic freedom), and - what goes with it - for strengthening the rule of law in the country. The aim is also to reduce support and reinforce community resistance to solutions going in the opposite direction. A wide range of freedoms and high level of the rule of law are necessary, among others, to ensure that Poland could still pursue its historic goal: to reach the living standards of the West. The essential extension of individual freedoms and of the rule of law took place in Poland in 1989, with the fall of socialism - the most repressive of modern regimes - and ensuing reforms which became possible. The reverse side of this process was a radical reconstruction of the scope and structure of the country. However much remains to be done. And furthermore - even in democracy - freedoms, especially economic freedom and the rule of law, require keen and constant vigilance.Civil Development Forum FoundationFOR_5b53eb4c-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea00We are a think-tank. The basis of our work is a thorough analysis of most areas of economic policy and law and, going beyond diagnosis, creation of recommendations for the government and the public.FOR CouncilLeszek Balcerowicz Founder & Chairman of the Council -- Economist, former president of the National Bank of Poland (NBP), deputy prime minister and minister of finance in the first non-communist government of Poland after the Second World War; professor at the Warsaw School of Economics (WSE); Doctor Honoris Causa of numerous Polish and foreign universities; the recipient of prestigious awards and decorations in Poland and abroad, including Order of the White Eagle... The Civil Development Forum Foundation (FOR) was founded by Prof. Leszek Balcerowicz in 2007. The bodies of FOR are the Council and the Executive Board. The Council monitors the activities of FOR and sets out the main lines of action. The Executive Board directs the daily activities of FOR. In the conduct of its activities FOR observes the principles of transparency, political neutrality, and quality; its operation is not-for-profit, as specifically regulated in the Code of Ethics of the FOR Foundation . The rules and conditions for accepting donations, legacies, grants and subsidies and obtaining income from other sources compatible with the statutes of the Foundation, including the management of the reserve fund, are regulated in the Code of Good Practice in Financing of the FOR Foundation.Michał ChałaczkiewiczCouncil Member -- Economist, member of the Society of Polish Economists (TEP). A graduate of the Warsaw School of Economics (WSE) in banking and finance; the winner of the first edition of Lesław A. Paga Scholarship. Currently working as Investment Director for Montagu Fund. The author of publications in the field of privatization in the financial sector.Błażej ModerCouncil MemberJeremi MordasewiczCouncil Member -- Graduate of the Warsaw Technical University, academic lecturer, entrepreneur. Nowadays advisor to the Board of the Confederation Lewiatan, member of the Social Dialog Council, member of the supervisory boards: Dr Irena Eris S.A. and Social Insurance Institution (ZUS).Arkadiusz MuśCouncil Member -- He is a Master of Law from the University of Silesia in Katowice. He started his business activity in 1992 by establishing PRESS GLASS SA company, which he has since developed into the European leader in the area of glass processing for construction industry. Till present day he remains the sole shareholder of the company. Currently also: - the sole shareholder of Glass Systems Ltd with its main seat in United Kingdom, - a shareholder and a member of the supervisory board of Euroglas Poland company as well as a business partner of Glas Trösch Holding AG with its main seat in Switzerland, - the owner of Rosa Private Golf Club in Poland, a 18-hole championship class golf course in Konopiska near Czestochowa, Poland, - a member of the Polish Business Roundtable.Ryszard WojtkowskiCouncil Member - Ryszard Wojtkowski is a co-founder and Managing Partner at Resource Partners. In 2007, he joined The Carlyle Group as Fund Head and Managing Director to lead Central and Eastern European buyout operations. Prior, he spent 7 years with Enterprise Investors where he was Managing Director and where he led 8 realized investments in consumer goods and retail, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, manufacturing and construction. Earlier in his career he was President at Novartis Consumer Health International SA (Switzerland), President at Alima Gerber and head of Gerber Eastern Europe, as well as Deputy General Manager at Cola-Cola Poland Services. Before moving to business, he was Chief of Staff to four consecutive Polish Prime Ministers. He has graduated from University of Economics in Katowice and studied at Harvard Business School.Former FOR Council MembersŁukasz Wejchert Tomasz PasikowskiLawyer and economist, member of the Society of Polish Economists (TEP). The deputy mayor (1990-1994) and the Mayor of Grudziądz (1995-1998). During years 1998 - 2001 Managing Director in The Ministry of Finance and during years 2001-2007 a member of the Board of the National Bank of Poland (NBP).Tadeusz SyryjczykDoctor of Technical Science; Minister of Industry (1989-1994); Minister of Transport and Marine Economy (1998-2000); member of the Parliament (1998-2001); 2003 - 2007 representative of Poland in Board of Directors of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Since 1980 member of the Polish Information Processing Society (PTI). Co-founder and the president of Cracow Industrial Society. Author of numerous works and publications in the field of economic policy.Jan Wejchert R.I.P.A graduate of the Economics Faculty of the Warsaw University; President of ITI Group and Member of the Executive Committee. In 1991 appointed for member of US-Poland Action Commission headed by Prof. Zbigniew Brzeziński. The founder and the first president of the Polish Business Roundtable.FOR TeamAgata StremeckaPresidentAleksander ŁaszekChief Economist & Vice PresidentMarek TatałaEconomist & Vice PresidentPatrycja SatoraDirector of Development DepartmentPaweł LisiewiczCommunication DirectorKarolina WąsowskaLawyerMarcin ZielińskiEconomistPatryk WachowiecLegal AnalystRafał TrzeciakowskiEconomistHelena KrajewskaPress OfficerKlaudia WalasEvent CoordinatorAnna KomosaDevelopment Department CoordinatorJan KożuchowskiAssistant to the Chairman of the CouncilJakub PrzeździeckiProjects CoordinatorOliwia KrólikOffice AssistantFOR SupportersJetlinePressGlassSantanderEcoWipesSiXT Rent-a-CarPoland reaches the living standards of the West._5b53ed04-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea00To strengthen the free-market reformist trend within civil society. _5b53ee80-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea00FreedomIndividual freedoms include political freedom, understood nowadays as free elections, freedom of speech and of media, freedom of travel, freedom of association and broadly understood economic freedom, the core of which is free - and thus private - entrepreneurship (ownership) and a wide range of freedom of contract which together form the free market. These freedoms are basic, classic, material human rights.Rule of LawThe level of the rule of law is expressed in lawmaking and law enforcement. The level of the rule of law is the higher the: * less legislation which contradicts the material human rights and the proper * lawmaking process. In practice, this legislative level of the rule of law can be measured by the degree of conflict between proposed and - even worse - adopted legislation, and the relevant parts of the constitution. * fewer decisions by the apparatus of interpretation and enforcement of the law (police, prosecutors, courts, tax authorities) that are contrary to the law or in disagreement with the proper procedure. The fundamental, classic human rights include the right to due process which means that actions of state authorities do not harass innocent people, and the accused are provided with appropriate procedural guarantees. The high level of the rule of law requires also quick settlements of cases by bodies involved in the interpretation and enforcement. If the wheels of justice turn too slow, it is not real justice.Constraint of StateA wide range of individual freedoms exists only when the state is strongly and permanently constrained, and in a twofold way: 1) It has a highly limited scope of action within the following areas: * legislative and regulatory, * fiscal (budget expenses and - as a result - taxes and public debt) ownership (state ownership is a legislated control of politicians and public administration over presidents of state-owned companies). 2) Strict adherence to the rule of law restricts methods at the disposal of the state. A wide range of individual freedoms also requires the state to well protect citizens against clearly defined forms of aggression on the part of others: both from the outside (national defense) as well as from the inside (to counteract the common crime). This function is even the very reason for the existence of the state. In some situations, there may be a conflict between the requirements of the rule of law and the protective function of the state. For example, a very strict criteria for admissibility of evidence in a criminal trial can contribute to acquittal of criminals, but at the same time it protects innocent people against judicial penalties. In most countries, and certainly in Poland, both the rule of law and the protective function of the state could and should be improved. If the state is heavily restricted, and at the same time effective in the implementation of this function, two powerful social mechanisms may operate to resolve problems of the people:CapitalismThe free market, or in other words: free-market capitalism;Mutual AssistanceCivil society: a variety of associations, foundations, etc., as well as groups and organizations, whose members associate to pursue common interests or to provide mutual assistance and help (churches, other organizations of mutual assistance, charities).ResearchThe triad: a highly restricted state - the free market - a vibrant civil society is, in our belief that is derived from research and experience, the best political system for free and responsible people. There is no immanent conflict between the state and the free market. The free market needs a state, but a specific type of state: a highly restricted and effective in the implementation of its protective function. Such a state also enables the development of civil society. Its opposite was the socialist state, which deprived people of all fundamental freedoms, and that was one of the reasons why it was characterized by a low level of the rule of law. (Enforcement of extensive prohibitions required an extended apparatus of surveillance and repression, led by political police). Within such a state there was no place for a free market nor for a legitimate civil society. There are other countries which strongly subdue the free market and / or the civil society. They represent various combinations of such features as extensive interventionism (a large range of operation), the low level of the rule of law, poor or simply bad discharge of the protective function of a heavily restricted state. In general, the greater is the deviation of the political system from these standards of a highly constrained state, the worse are conditions for living and working it creates.DignityA broad range and an equal level of individual freedoms has an intrinsic value: it respects the dignity of the individual. In addition, a wide range of freedom, especially economic one, which is possible only within highly restricted state that performs well its protective function, creates the best conditions for rapid long-term economic development, an issue which is of great importance for an underdeveloped country such as Poland: * only this provides means to meet the material needs of people * only this creates more productive workplaces (there is no good life without work); * only this, reducing the gap in living standards relative to rich countries and creating more jobs, is able to gradually reduce the incentive to emigrate; * only this creates a strong foundation for strengthening the country's position in the world; * finally, only a fast, long-term economic growth provides means to invest in national defense.Economic DevelopmentAs you can see, one cannot overstate the social importance of the rapid, long-term economic development in a country which is economically underdeveloped. In the years 1989 - 2013 the gross domestic product of Poland more than doubled, which was the best result in our region. This was made possible by the reforms leading towards the heavily constrained state and - in effect - towards the free market. However, much remains to be done in such areas as law-making, justice, tax system and apparatus, welfare state. Moreover - in part as a result of negligence - we face the prospect of a strong and lasting slowdown of the Polish economy, because its main driving forces: the dynamics of employment, the share of investment in GDP and - consequential to some extent - improvement of efficiency, have been weakening or keep remaining weak in the recent years. This scenario, harmful for Poland, can be replaced by a better one only by implementation of certain reforms, which requires greater than ever mobilization on their behalf.MobilizationSuch mobilization is necessary, because economic freedom is under permanent attack in all – even democratic - societies. In every society there are groups of different interests and different views on the role of the state in society, in particular - in the economy. This is natural. In each country, among these groups they are statists - those that defend excessively expanded state and / or push for even further extension of those laws and budget spending that are favorable to them. Such groups exist both inside and outside the party system and are overlapping, to a greater or lesser extent, with certain political parties. Inefficient solutions are often defended by some of the state employees. Statist and / or anti--reform pressures arise from self-interest (financial gains or status quo improvements), or from particular political views: there are many people, including some with higher education, for whom - in spite of research and experience – a powerful state is the source of solutions and the free market - the source of problems. The long-term dominance of statist and / or anti-reform groups ends with the collapse of the economy, owing to - among others - the weight of public debt (like in Greece) or with its stagnation due to systematic deterioration of conditions for private enterprise (like in Italy and France). Such scenarios are particularly dangerous for countries that only get themselves established, like Poland.Libertarian ReformWhat shows clearly against this background is a great importance of strong civic counterbalance to statist and anti-reform groups. It is the only chance for reforms that would replace those dangerous scenarios mentioned above. This libertarian and reformist force can and should be created both inside the party system and outside it - in civil society, so as to exert a strong libertarian, reformist pressure on the political parties (and other public institutions), and thus resist statist and anti-reformist pressures. The mission of FOR is to strengthen the free-market reformist trend within civil society.Research & AnalysisPrepare reports and analyses of economic policy in Poland._5b53f042-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea001We prepare reports and analyses of economic policy in Poland. We analyze trends and publications worldwide. In addition, we comment on current events affecting the economy: in particular we criticize decisions adverse to economic freedom and support solutions that are beneficial for it. The touchstone for us is commitment to long-term economic growth and respect for the rule of law... Analytical research of FOR aims to promote good and to block bad solutions, and focus on two, partly overlapping areas:Stability & DevelopmentIdentify the determinants of stability and development of the economy._5b53f1b4-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea001.1Determinants of stability and development of the economy, with particular emphasis on the reforms needed to ensure that Poland can continue to catch up with the West in terms of living standards.Rule of LawAddress the signs and reasons of the low level of the rule of law in Poland and changes needed for its marked improvement._5b53f3f8-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea001.2Signs and reasons of the low level of the rule of law in Poland and changes needed for its marked improvement. Diagnosis and proposals of FOR are based on a careful comparative analysis: we strive to find out international standards of solving specific problems, and to describe negative experiences, which should be avoided. FOR is committed to the earliest possible identification and assessment of proposals that appear in the political system and concern the development of the economy and / or the rule of law (the so-called "watchdogs") so that - through actions in the field of social communication, through organization and mobilization of forces, to increase chances of the introduction of good practices - and reduce the probability of accepting bad ones. A critical evaluation of the bad solutions is continued if they are adopted, so as to counteract misinformation of the society by politicians and increase the chances of replacing bad solutions with better ones. As the potential of FOR grows, the thematic scope of its analysis will be expanded. In the first place we are interested how to strengthen the protective function of the state - while raising the level of the rule of law in Poland at the same time. The issue at stake here concerns a widely understood judicial system. The analytical research of FOR is judged solely by merits, that is by the rules of logical and empirical correctness, and not by any other. In this sense, they are unbiased. We evaluate a variety of events and ideas according to the same substantive criteria, regardless of who are their authors.CommunicationReach the widest possible public audience and decision makers._5b53f560-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea002We want to reach the widest possible public audience and decision makers. We participate in public consultations, and above all, we are active in the media, where several times a week our experts present results of our analyses. We are active in social media and on the Internet._5b53f6c8-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea00EventsOrganize thematic seminars, conferences and meetings._5b53f862-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea003StudentsBusiness LeadersJournalistsSpecial Events. We organize thematic seminars, conferences and meetings with experts for students, businessmen, and journalists. Under the brand name FOR Recommends we promote and co-publish books and audiobooks by Polish and foreign authors. We cooperate with many institutions for which, as for us, the reduction of state interference in the economy and in the lives of citizens is an important part of improving life in Poland._5b53fa1a-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea00EducationOrganize educational events._5b53fbb4-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea004We organize a series of educational events, including the Schools of Leszek Balcerowicz for students and Economic Comic Books - one of the largest educational projects dedicated to the Polish schools._5b53fd08-07da-11ea-b368-1c462483ea002019-11-15https://for.org.pl/en/misja-forOwenOwen.Ambur@verizon.netOwen.Ambur@verizon.net