INESS

INESS, the Institute of Economic and Social Studies, began its activities in January 2006. As an independent think tank, INESS monitors the functioning and financing of the public sector, evaluates the effects of legislative changes on the economy and society and comments on current economic and social issues.

Economy

Retailer Tax in Slovakia Abolished

BY Martin Vlachynsky AND INESS / April 26, 2019

Several East European countries have been flirting with various forms of a “retailer tax”. A tax similar (but not equal) to VAT, or the sales tax. Its proclaimed aim is typically to “punish” international retail chains, which have been repeatedly blamed for problems of local farmers and local food and beverages industry.

Think Tank News

Free Market Road Show 2019 Visited Bratislava

BY Adriana Valaskova AND INESS / April 23, 2019

Institute of Economic and Social Studies (INESS) has been organizing Free Market Road Show for a few years now. This year, the 11th conference to be held in Bratislava hosted discussions that tackled multiple economic issues as well as their possible solutions.

Economy

How Slovakia Fell From Reform Leader to Country Where Sun May Set

BY INESS / April 5, 2019

Slovakia has managed to muster a constitutional majority passing a bill that would have a detrimental effect on the stability of the Slovak public finances in the long run. The measure is the constitutional limit of the retirement age now set at 64 for men and 63 for women (with two kids).

Economy

Slovak Massacre by Minimum Wage

BY Robert Chovanculiak AND INESS / April 2, 2019

The ruling politicians are unfortunately going in the opposite direction. While a person working for a minimum wage in 2015 paid 29% in taxes and levies, with the planned minimum wage, they will pay more than 40% next year.

Society

Let’s Get Rid Of Free Lunch Program and Actually Help Poor Kids

BY Robert Chovanculiak AND INESS / February 15, 2019

It was late 2018, when the Slovak government approved the free lunch program for all children attending elementary schools. The supporting argument was that this measure is outreaching to poor kids who had not been targeted by previous lunch subsidies.

Economy

Less Poverty or More Inequality?

BY INESS / February 11, 2019

Although we must admit the existence of inequality, why do we get so irritated by it? What is that 16-year-old missing to understand? It is the knowledge that inequality isn’t caused by someone biting a bigger chunk off a single global pie.

Economy

Retail Chain Tax in Slovakia: Scary for the Big, Hammering the Small

BY Martin Vlachynsky AND INESS / October 29, 2018

The Slovak government’s intention is to lower the market power of large international retail chains. Unfortunately, the alleged problems are mostly made-up. Instead, the \"retail chain tax\" may end up raising the food prices and wrecking havoc in Slovak retail.

Economy

Lighthouse: The Most Thrilling Case in Economics

BY Robert Chovanculiak AND INESS / October 26, 2018

The history of ship navigation on the shores of England shows us that when explaining events we need to take a look not only on the market failures, but also on the state failures. These played a bigger role than the textbooks\' authors might expect.

Think Tank News

Four Countries Publish Results of Bureaucracy Index

BY INESS / October 3, 2018

Bureaucracy Index was introduced in Slovakia in 2016 by Institute of Economic and Social Studies (INESS) to emphasize the amount of red tape a small entrepreneur has to overcome on a daily basis. It is based on a straightforward methodology, using an analysis of a model company.

Think Tank News

Time to Celebrate International Bureaucracy Day!

BY INESS / September 29, 2018

In 2016, Institute of Economic and Social Studies decided to establish and commemorate the International Bureaucracy Day. We chose the date of September, marked by the birthday of Ludwig von Mises, author of the brilliant analytical book Bureaucracy.