Polenrisiko. Instytucjonalne ograniczenia handlu zagranicznego II Rzeczypospolitej

Abstract

The article explores institutional obstacles to the growth of Polish interwar foreign trade. Looking at interwar analyses of private entities and governmental agencies engaged in the trade, it shows the endemic organisational and institutional problems in the sector, linking them with belated modernisation of Polish lands in the XIX century. Seen in this light, the significant governmental engagement in and control of foreign trade can be seen as another example of state interven- tion trying to cover areas of insufficient modernisation. At the same time, the difficult situation of interwar Poland meant, that some governmental actions, while crucial from the point of view of monetary policy, were detrimental to the organisation of the foreign trade sector.