Between 1989 and 2018, Poland experienced the highest GDP growth in Europe, with an increase of 826.96%. During this time, Ireland's GDP grew by 789.43%, Slovakia's by 783.83%, and the Czech Republic's by 549.47%. In 1990, Poland's national income was USD 65.978 billion, rising to USD 524.5 billion by 2017, attributed to privatization, private entrepreneurship, improved work efficiency, and openness to foreign direct investments. In 2018, Poland's economy expanded by 5.1%, compared to 4.8% in 2017. In the fourth quarter of 2018, GDP grew by 4.9% annually, slightly lower than the 5.1% increase in the third quarter. Investments rose by 6.7%, private consumption by 4.3%, and domestic demand by 4.8%. The PMI index in January 2019 was 48.2 points, higher than December 2018's 47.6 points.
Since 2015, during the Law and Justice (PiS) government's tenure, Poland has witnessed a rising trend of economic nationalism. This has been exemplified by state-owned PZU's acquisition of a 25.3% stake in Alior Bank in 2015, and a joint venture between PZU and the Polish Development Fund to purchase a 32.8% stake in Bank Pekao from UniCredit in 2017. Additionally, there have been consolidations within the state sector, such as the merger of state-owned PKN Orlen with Energa in 2020, and later with Lotos in 2022, with further intentions to acquire smaller competitor PGNiG. Ministerial suggestions have also hinted at desires for increased government control over the economy. In 2022, Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice party, mentioned potential government purchases of PKP Energetyka and the Żabka convenience store chain from CVC Capital Partners.