Leszek Balcerowicz

HSE Honorary Professor since March 25, 2011.

Born in 1947, Lezek Balcerowicz graduated from the Central School of Planning and Statistics in Warsaw (now the Warsaw School of Economics), received his MBA from St. John's University,  New York, in 1974, and his doctorate from the Warsaw School of Economics in 1975. Balcerowicz served as an economics consultant  in the Solidarity political movement. In 1989, he joined  Lech Walesa's government and became known  for his Polish economic reforms ('the shock therapy' reforms) when consumer prices were  deregulated, the public sector  budget was reduced, and the Złoty was made a convertible currency.

He served as Poland's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance  from 1989-1991 and 1997-2000, as well as MP in the Seim (Parliament)  from 1997-2001, and Governor of the National Bank of Poland from  2001-2007. Winner of his country's highest award, the Order of the White Eagle, for his contribution to Poland's economic transformation, he is also Honorary Doctor of more than 20 universities.