Structure of the rural population incomes in Poland before and after the accession to the European Union

In the period of transformation significant changes in the structure of income sources of population in Poland have been observed. The most important ones are a fall in the share of salaries and an increased role of social transfers as a main source of incomes. These tendencies were especially visible in rural areas. Accession of Poland to the European Union creates through Common Agricultural Policy and regional policy new possibilities for overcoming income problems troubling rural population. Total transfers to Polish agricultural sector and rural areas within 2004-2006 under those titles would reach more than 10 billion €. To ensure maximum absorption of available funds, national development plans were elaborated. Authors argue that during the first years of membership there will be no significant changes in the rural population's income structure.