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

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.

Economy

Two Faces of, and a single Punch for, Slovak Labor Market

BY Robert Chovanculiak AND INESS / July 31, 2018

The most important figure of the Slovak economy in the last 5 years has been the trend in unemployment. This rate had been decreasing since the first quarter of 2013 and had dropped to almost a half in the first quarter of 2018. The unemployment rate fell from more than 14% to nearly 7%.

Economy

Financial and Economic (Il)Literacy among Young Slovaks

BY Monika Budzak AND INESS / July 31, 2018

With a sample of 4,000 Slovak students, the Economics Olympiad revealed the most serious weaknesses in economic education of young people. Memorizing is believed to be a long-term problem, but knowledge useful only as a part of quiz shows remains a crucial element of the Slovak education system.

Economy

Automakers Good, Merchants Bad

BY Martin Vlachynsky AND INESS / July 18, 2018

Mankind has made unbelievable progress in the last one hundred years. From horse carriages to moon landings, from typhus epidemics to molecular genetics, from conservative patriarchate to gay marriages. One thing does not change though – the suspicion, or even hate towards merchants.

Think Tank News

International Sharing Economy Conference: Do Regulations Kill Innovation?

BY Monika Budzak AND INESS / June 25, 2018

INESS organized the international conference \"Do Regulations Kill Inovation? on June 19, 2018, focusing directly on the sharing economy, its potential for the future, and regulatory environment issues. The conference was attended by over 100 participants.

Think Tank News

Free Market Road Show 2018 in Bratislava

BY Monika Budzak AND INESS / May 31, 2018

INESS has been organizing the Free Market Road Show, an international conference, for a number of years. The event found its way to Bratislava in 2018 again and brought topics stirring the public at home and abroad.