Tendencje w wydatkach wojskowych Polski w latach 2001-2004

The goal of this article is to diagnose military expenditures of our country during the last four years. The analysis of this process is necessary not only for our politicians but also for soldiers, economists, but most and foremost for our citizens. It is important to inform the nation in every democratic country how its military forces are trained, equipped and financed. During the period from 2001 to 2004 the budget of MON (Ministry of National Defence underwent positive transformation both in the range of global amount of expenditures, structure and dynamics. From its GDP, Poland spent around 1.95% while from the National Budget about 8.2%. The increasing trend of MON budgetary expenditures has been visible since 2002 in the range between 2.0 and 4.2%, while the 2004 budget was higher by 8.6% than the 2001 one. The average yearly pace of that increase versus 2001 was 2.8%. Property expenditures occurred during that time. They covered purchases of military armament and equipment as well as construction investments. They amounted to the total MON Budget in the following numbers: 9.5% in 2001, 12.7% in 2002. 13.6% in 2003 and 16.3% in 2004 (including funds from the so called “aircraft reserve’’ - 17.2%). The property expenditures (in constant 2004 prices) doubled, out of which 85.3% was devoted to purchases of armament and military equipment. Current expenditures remain at a relatively steady level. In 2004 they were around 3.5 billion USD. In order to achieve such a significant increase of military expenditures, the National Defence Department undertook many painful for the military society decisions (reduction of employment, disbanding military bases). Unfortunately, they were unavoidable.