177th mBank-CASE Seminar Proceedings: The Just Energy Transition from the Perspective of Cities and Regions – the experience of Poland and other European Union countries

Publications

20 Aug 2024

Sustainable policies

mBank – CASE Seminar Proceedings

Agnieszka Kulesa

Ewa Balcerowicz

Andrzej Kosiór

Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk

Piotr Korytkowski

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Agnieszka Kulesa

Specialist in Social Sciences
Agnieszka Kulesa has been working at CASE since 2018. She specialises in the labour market, international labour migration, and migration policies within and outside the European Union.

Articles from this author:
- Exploring the Entrepreneurial Potential of Belarusian Migrants in the EU
  This Working Paper aims to deepen the understanding of Belarusian migration to the EU, with a particular focus on entrepreneurship among Belarusian migrants.
- 180th mBank-CASE Seminar Proceedings: BNPL: Buy Now Pay Later. Deferred Payment– An Established Idea Gaining Traction
  The publication examines the growing popularity and implications of the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) financial model in Poland and globally. It features expert analyses and discussions from a seminar held on March 14, 2024, including insights from key players like PayPo, PKO BP, and the Credit Information Bureau (BIK). The publication focuses on: BNPL Evolution and Success: Originating in Sweden, BNPL has transformed global online shopping, offering deferred payment options as an alternative to credit cards. Poland's BNPL market, still in its infancy, shows rapid growth due to firms like PayPo, Twisto, and Allegro Pay. Comparison with Credit Cards: Unlike credit cards, BNPL offers simpler, targeted transactions that resonate with younger demographics and more women. It avoids the complexities and high fees associated with traditional credit cards, fostering higher adoption rates. Polish Market Dynamics: By the end of 2023, nearly 2 million Poles had used BNPL, representing 12% of active borrowers. PayPo leads the market with innovative features, while PKO BP introduces seamless banking integration for deferred payments. Challenges and Growth Potential: Despite its success, establishing a universal BNPL business model remains challenging. However, its consumer-centric approach signals continued growth, especially as it aligns with modern purchasing behaviors. The report provides a nuanced understanding of how BNPL reshapes financial landscapes, blending fintech innovation with traditional banking.
- Intergenerational Dialogue for the Future of My City
  The publication is an educator's guidebook designed to inspire and support discussions between youth and elderly participants about shaping the future of urban environments. Created as part of the "Future for All" project by CASE (Center for Social and Economic Research), this guidebook uses Warsaw as a case study but provides adaptable insights for cities globally. It is funded by the European Economic Area and Norwegian Financial Mechanism (2014–2021). The guidebook delves into critical themes, including: Demography: Addressing the implications of an ageing population, declining birth rates, and migration patterns for urban planning and social cohesion. Migration: Exploring the integration of diverse populations and fostering intercultural and intergenerational understanding. Climate Change: Highlighting urban sustainability through public initiatives like green spaces and waste reduction. Digitalisation: Emphasizing smart city development while bridging the generational digital divide. Central to its approach are intergenerational activities that foster collaboration and mutual understanding, with a focus on scenario planning, problem-solving, and community engagement. This resource equips educators with tools to promote critical thinking and inclusivity, encouraging young and older citizens alike to actively shape resilient and sustainable urban communities.
Author’s articles
Ewa Balcerowicz
Chairwoman of CASE Supervisory Council (July 2008-present) and mBank-CASE Seminars Project Manager

Articles from this author:
- 182nd mBank-CASE Seminar Proceedings: Polish and Ukrainian Agriculture in a Common Europe
- 180th mBank-CASE Seminar Proceedings: BNPL: Buy Now Pay Later. Deferred Payment– An Established Idea Gaining Traction
  The publication examines the growing popularity and implications of the Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) financial model in Poland and globally. It features expert analyses and discussions from a seminar held on March 14, 2024, including insights from key players like PayPo, PKO BP, and the Credit Information Bureau (BIK). The publication focuses on: BNPL Evolution and Success: Originating in Sweden, BNPL has transformed global online shopping, offering deferred payment options as an alternative to credit cards. Poland's BNPL market, still in its infancy, shows rapid growth due to firms like PayPo, Twisto, and Allegro Pay. Comparison with Credit Cards: Unlike credit cards, BNPL offers simpler, targeted transactions that resonate with younger demographics and more women. It avoids the complexities and high fees associated with traditional credit cards, fostering higher adoption rates. Polish Market Dynamics: By the end of 2023, nearly 2 million Poles had used BNPL, representing 12% of active borrowers. PayPo leads the market with innovative features, while PKO BP introduces seamless banking integration for deferred payments. Challenges and Growth Potential: Despite its success, establishing a universal BNPL business model remains challenging. However, its consumer-centric approach signals continued growth, especially as it aligns with modern purchasing behaviors. The report provides a nuanced understanding of how BNPL reshapes financial landscapes, blending fintech innovation with traditional banking.
- 179th mBank – CASE Seminar Proceedings: Economic Scenarios for Poland
  The mBank-CASE seminar publication presents economic scenarios for Poland discussed by Polish economists in November 2023, shortly after the parliamentary elections that ended the eight-year rule of the Law and Justice party. The experts analyzed the country’s macroeconomic situation, growth prospects, and the consequences of the populist policies from 2016–2023. They highlighted current challenges such as labor market imbalances, high inflation, an expansionary fiscal policy, and the issue of an aging population. They also provided recommendations for monetary, fiscal, educational, and immigration policies. In addition to short-term challenges like very low unemployment and rising labor costs, the authors emphasize the need for a deliberate approach to economic policy. In the longer term, we face the challenge of diminishing potential to converge further with the more developed economies of the European Union. An aging population and the anticipated slowdown in productivity growth require us to take structural action. The experts suggest that only by increasing innovation, improving education quality, and creating conditions for well-integrated immigration will we be able to maintain sustainable economic growth in the coming decades.
Author’s articles
Andrzej Kosiór
Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk
Piotr Korytkowski

Climate change is a global problem – it requires the cooperation of countries all over the world and the implementation of sustainable development concepts.

In mBank-CASE Seminar Proceedings no. 177 authors describe the ways selected Polish regions tackled the challenges of transition towards sustainable energy.

Agnieszka Kulesa, Vice-President of CASE Management Board, focuses on Lusatia, Upper Nitra and Greater Poland and the way these regions handled the transition, highlighting the role of lignite mining.

Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk, Energy Forum expert and director of the Electricity comments on Agnieszka’s findings.

Next chapters focus on the way two cities in Poland managed to make their way through an energy transition:

Konin – described by Piotr Korytkowski, Its President, and

Wałbrzych – by Andrzej Kosiór, Head of the Strategic Management Office.

Table of contents

Ewa Balcerowicz – Introduction p. 5-7

Agnieszka Kulesa – The just energy transition in Lusatia (Germany), Upper Nitra (Slovakia) and Greater Poland (Poland) – conclusions and recommendations p. 8-23

Aleksandra Gawlikowska-Fyk – Just Energy Transition in Poland: where we stand p. 24-27

Piotr Korytkowski – Energy transition of Konin and the Konin region p. 25-34

Andrzej Kosiór – Lower Silesia’s energy transition – the experience of Wałbrzych p. 34-42