KRZYSZTOF PIECH Economic Policy Department, Warsaw School of Economics, Poland DIGITALISM The goal of this paper is to present the historical and contemporary changes in economic systems as well as to introduce the idea of a new economic system we are facing nowadays, which I would name: digitalism. 1 1. An outline of economic systems evolution Looking at the evolution of economic systems, first of all there can be mentioned feudalism and capitalism, as two dominating ones during the history of countries. We can also enumerate socialism (or communism) that finally almost completely collapsed. But this distinction should be reviewed more detailed, because there is no consensus between economists on definition and types of economic systems. 1.1. Idea and types of economic systems One of the classic definitions of economic system describes it as a collection of interrelated economic institutions, e.g. companies, consumers, political parties, market, planning etc. 2 From the point of view of our region, there should be mentioned the works of L. Balcerowicz, the author of Polish economic transition program. As a specialist of comparative economic systems, 3 he was one of not numerous economists, who has 1 This concept was presented for the first time during the 8 th International Symposium of Finance and Management Faculty, Warsaw School of Economics (June 2001) and published in: K. Piech, “Perspektywy polityki gospodarczej w dobie nowej gospodarki” (Prospects of economic policy in new economy era), [in:] “Wpływ otoczenia na zarządzanie i finansowanie przedsiębiorstw. CzęĞć IIŚ Przedsiębiorstwo wobec wyzwań przyszłoĞci” (An influence of environment on managing and financing the companies. part 2: A company towards challenges of the future), Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw 2001, p. 17ś as well as inŚ K. Piech, “KonkurencyjnoĞć gospodarki Polski w dobie rewolucji informacyjnej a wejĞcie do Unii Europejskiej” (Competitiveness of Poland’s economy in information revolution era vs. European Union accession), Studia i Pra ce Kolegium Zarządzania i Finansów SGH, 2001 (Studies and Works of Management and Finance Faculty, Warsaw School of Economics), no. 22, p. 20-21. 2 WW. Loucks, W.G. Whitney, “Comparative Economic Systems”, Harper and Row, New York 1973, p. 13-14; quoted fromŚ J. Kaja, “Polityka gospodarcza. Wstęp do teorii” (Economic Policy. An introduction to the theory), Szkoła Główna Handlowa, Warszawa 1999, p. 35. 3 L. Balcerowicz, „Systemy gospodarcze. Elementy analizy porównawczej” (Economic systems. Elements of comparative analysis), Warszawa 1989.