[remon]

Being able to buy groceries with euros is not a strong, or even related, argument to the point you're making. Even ignoring the real economic cost of having two currencies, there is no serious economist that would argue Poland joining the EUR zone is negative for Poland (as opposed to for stronger EU economies). Every single historic metric points in the other direction. Poland's economy is maturing and strengthening and median household income is slowly reaching parity with neighbouring countries so this particular argument may only hold for maybe another decade but until then it's a bit misguided. Also, not for nothing but the Polish economy is mostly doing as well as it does because of the metric ton of EU subsidies injected into it the past decades. Poland is one of the largest net receivers of EU money since 2004 so arguing it or its single currency was somehow a net negative to Poland is, and by extension an odd argument to make for someone benefiting from the above as a Polish citizen.

[pradn]

You have to be careful to make a distinction being in the EU and using the Euro as your currency. You can benefit from the EU common market, with its uniform rules/standards, easy capital flows, subsidies, and industrial policy. All without using the Euro as your currency, and being subject to the monetary policy of the ECB.

Being in the EU without using the Euro has been pretty good for Poland.

[owebmaster]

> Being in the EU without using the Euro has been pretty good for Poland.

That's an interesting perspective. From what I see in the news, the EU isn't as happy with the outcome.

[throw0101a]

> Even ignoring the real economic cost of having two currencies, there is no serious economist that would argue Poland joining the EUR zone is negative for Poland (as opposed to for stronger EU economies). Every single historic metric points in the other direction.

The inability to set monetary policy is a strong argument. Just ask Greece (and Spain):

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euro_area_crisis

[keiferski]

Also, not for nothing but the Polish economy is mostly doing as well as it does because of the metric ton of EU subsidies injected into it the past decades.

That's one part of it. The other part is that the country had just as much human capital and economic potential as Western European states, but was held back artificially by the Partitions, WW2, the Soviet Union, and the lack of Marshall Plan investment that Western Europe received.

Sorry, but the narrative of "Poland is only doing well because the EU is helping" (of which German companies are benefitting from tremendously) is a historically narrow way to analyze the situation.

[remon]

Well, it's a fact, not a narrative. I think the actual debate is whether or not boosting economies of countries in the EU that for one reason or another were or are behind on the curve is a net win. I think it is. Just as it is perfectly justified for other countries to feel a bit hard done by if that same country after an estimates 280 billion euro injection is still rejecting the shared currency of that body.