During the 1980s Polish society had a precise idea of what type of systemic solutions it refused to accept. However, its ideas regarding ideal models of state and economy were far more ill defined. These ideas were formed upon the basis of negating the principles and mechanisms of real socialism as well as the yearning for a better, more effective, rational and just system. In the 1980s visions of the future system and judgements about the shape of the future economy were built on the basis of expectations and hopes rather than on realistic calculations.

In 1989 Polish society placed its aspirations and hopes in a democratic state coupled with a market economy. Under the influence of the elation of freedom only a minority of people were aware of the fact that expectations may be limited by prevailing circumstances, or indeed impossible to realize.