economy

For years, the Nordic countries have been cited in Polish public debate as evidence that a larger state and higher public spending are the recipe for prosperity. This analysis shows that the sources of Scandinavian success lie elsewhere: in economic freedom, fiscal discipline, a flexible labor market, and strong institutions.

Local content is one of the most controversial economic policies in public procurement: it is a form of protectionism and discrimination against suppliers from other countries. In its initial phase, the government’s current proposal envisages introducing local content standards into the practices of companies owned by State Treasury. Some of this may fall within a […]

European Union countries use different time zones, ranging from UTC to UTC+2. Under EU Directive 2000/84/EC, however, they must all switch to summer time on the last Sunday in March, moving the clocks forward by one hour. Changing the clocks is criticized for its costs and lack of tangible benefits.

The Polish Ministry of Digital Affairs has moved to the next stage of works on the digital tax bill. Another sectoral levy will almost certainly increase service prices for consumers and smaller businesses. The estimated — and probably overstated — tax revenues of PLN 1.7–4 billion will not materially improve public finances, whose problems stem from excessive spending rather than insufficient revenue.

Poland has established a position, unique in Europe, as a shopping hub for people living in the border regions of neighboring countries. Consumers come to Poland from every direction to buy goods and services for their own use.

Specialization has bought us precision, and that is no small thing. A narrow view often catches what someone trying to take in everything will miss. But a doctor who set out to cure one organ without asking what the treatment would do to the rest of the body would cause more trouble than they cured. The difficulty begins when a specialist treats one aspect of a life as enough to explain the whole of it.

For the first time since 1995, investment as a share of the economy is higher in Lithuania than in Estonia. According to Eurostat, gross fixed capital formation in Lithuania amounted to 22.1% of GDP in the first quarter of 2026, while in Estonia it fell to 21.7%. Lithuania remained ahead in the second quarter, with investment reaching 22.4% of GDP, compared with 22.1% in Estonia.

The new agreement of Lithuania’s governing coalition includes a commitment that “people who work must not be worse off than those who do not”. According to experts at the LFMI, this principle is particularly relevant when assessing the unemployment insurance system. Yet in Lithuania, unemployment can still be more financially rewarding than work, especially in lower-skilled and lower-paid jobs.

The Czech government presented its 2027 state budget draft with deficit of CZK 389 billion while highlighting a figure of 2.8% of GDP and comparing it favorably with deficits elsewhere in the EU. Yet, these figures describe different concepts.

The Czech pension system faces significant demographic pressure in the coming decades. The number of people of retirement age will rise, whilst the number of those funding the system will fall. Even following recent reforms, long-term projections therefore do not foresee the pension system achieving a balanced budget.