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.

Think Tank News

Seminar on Austrian Economics VIII: Cryptocurrencies and Anarchy

BY Monika Budzak AND INESS / May 28, 2018

The eighth year of the Seminar on Austrian Economics organized by INESS was traditionally held in the Mojmírovce manor on March 15 to 18, 2018. Here, 29 students from various universities from all around Slovakia and the Czech Republic got together.

Economy

Slovak Farmers Are Entrepreneurs

BY Martin Vlachynsky AND INESS / May 22, 2018

Do not be fooled by the vast yellow fields of rapeseed in Slovakia. The agricultural sector is a zombie, living on subsidies instead of fresh brains. There are a few exceptions (like the successful tomato growers), but the overall numbers are harsh.

Economy

How Not to Scare Off Uber and Taxify from Slovakia

BY Robert Chovanculiak AND INESS / April 17, 2018

How can Slovakia match the technologies of the 21st century with regulation, so that the opportunities will be exploited? It\'s simple. It is not rocket science or a super-secured secret. Just look at what has been done by more than half of the U.S. states.

Economy

How Much Would a Simple Tax Reform Cost in Slovakia?

BY Martin Vlachynsky AND INESS / April 17, 2018

Paying the advanced tax in Slovakia is a bureaucratic burden, since an entrepreneur has to take care of the regular payments. But there is a bigger problem. An entrepreneur has to pay the advanced tax from her/his current income – but the payment size is set according to her/his last year’s tax.

Economy

Inappropriate Regulation of Appropriate Conditions

BY INESS / March 26, 2018

The Slovak Ministry of Agriculture lists among its goals the support of Slovak agricultural production. Except their heavy subsidizing under EU common agricultural policy, it uses several tools of nationalist protection of local production.

Think Tank News

New Study: The Separation of Education and Politics in Slovakia

BY INESS / February 12, 2018

INESS has recently presented its views on the steps necessary to reform the education system in Slovakia in the study titled The Separation of education and politics. The proposal does not consist of prescription of exact content and form of education.

Economy

Slovak Government Shopping for Investors

BY Radovan Durana AND INESS / January 12, 2018

Automotive industry plays one of the most important roles in economies of the Visegrad Group countries. The sector became the regional leader in export and a reason for close ties among countries. Hyundai Kia in the Czech Republic and Slovakia is a textbook example of how one company ignores artificial national borders.

Economy

How an Illegal Shipping Container Reshaped the World Economy

BY Robert Chovanculiak AND INESS / January 8, 2018

An example of innovation is a standardized cargo container. Today, there are more than 20 million of these containers around the globe and we move practically everything in them. This innovation from the late sixties completely changed the world.

Think Tank News

Econtalks in Slovakia

BY Monika Budzak AND INESS / January 8, 2018

In 2017, INESS launched a series of informal economic discussions called Ekonomické reči (Econtalks). Seven events were organized so far and more than 420 guests altogether visited the evening forum. First Econtalks were held by Radovan Ďurana in March.

Think Tank News

Bureaucracy Index Goes International

BY INESS / October 3, 2017

In 2016, the Institute of Economic and Social Studies (INESS) from Slovakia decided to fill the gap and the Bureaucracy Index was born. In collaboration with experts from different areas, INESS identified and analyzed all the administrative tasks that the state requires from a model SME company.