While analysing the execution of the state budget in 2009, the world economic crisis must be taken into account which resulted in an economic growth slowdown. Polish Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased in 2009 by 1.8 percent (in 2008 - by 5.1 percent), which should be regarded as a success. Yet, the world crisis affected the unemployment level (which grew to 11.9 percent at the end of 2009) and led to a significant slowdown in investments and to a decrease in export.
State budget revenues in 2009 stood at PLN 274 billion and were slightly higher than forecast, yet lower than in 2008 which resulted from an economic growth slowdown and systemic changes in Value Added Tax and Personal Income Tax.
State budget expenditures in 2009 reached PLN 298 billion and were lower than expected. However, the state spent more than it had been planned on, for instance, subsidies and public debt servicing which grew by almost 30 percent and constituted over 10 percent of the Polish budget expenditures. This should be attributed to a growth in debt and weakened Polish zloty.
