Although Gomulka's accession to power raised great hopes, the 1956 incident proved to be a prelude to further social discontent when those hopes were disappointed. The 1960s and 1970s saw Gomulka's decline in power and his eventual ouster spectacular economic reforms withouÍÍÍÍt long-term results widespread dissent, often including open confrontations, from intellectuals, the church, and the workers and, finally, the near-collapse of the Polish economy.

Data as of October 1992