By the late 1980s, people realised that structural adjustment policies were worsening life for the world's poor.

Opponents of debt cancellation suggested that structural adjustment policies should be continued.

In general, after our adjustment policies of 1986, we've noticed great improvements.

The Eighth Plan was finally launched in 1992 after the initiation of structural adjustment policies.

"The plan is designed to insure that Poland will be implementing the right adjustment policies," said one official who was involved in the talks.

In particular many pointed to growing social unrest, crime and unemployment caused in part by the government's structural adjustment policies.

No great change occurred in this situation until the outbreak of the crisis and the introduction of the adjustment policies.

There are also the structural adjustment policies which have hugely destabilised the education and health systems and the public services.

Finally, ladies and gentlemen, the authorities are applying harsh fiscal adjustment policies.

The high human cost of the 1980 adjustment policies are assessed.