you can only escape poverty with economic growth and the precondition for economic

freedom.

Dr. Rayner Ziedelman is a German historian, sociologist, and author of several books

including most recently,

how nations escaped poverty, Vietnam, Poland,

and the origins of prosperity.

In socialist times, there was no freedom of press.

Everything was great most of the time

if you read the newspaper.

Why do some countries emerging from totalitarian rule

become prosperous economically,

while others languish? And what factors contribute to a nation's financial success?

This is American Thought Leaders, and I'm Yagni Kellick.

Rainer Zedelman, such a pleasure to have you on American thought leaders.

Thank you for inviting me.

Well I just finished watching a most wonderful documentary that you made that's actually related to your book.

Poland from socialism to prosperity.

And you know and of course I've been very aware of the big changes that happened in Poland post 89

and very proud of it as a Polish, Canadian, and you know

aspirational American. But you actually make the case that Poland did something special and that's what made it in particular successful in this transition phase.

And so tell me about what happened.

Poland was one of the poorest countries in Europe in the 80s.

...