LFMI

Labor market flexibility may be characterized by the market participants\' abilities to deviate from standard labor regulations and typical forms of employment. Such possibilities may not only provide positive outcomes to both employers and employees, but they may also benefit the whole economy.

There is evidence showing that increases in mandatory minimum wage might force some firms to increase prices, lay off workers, cut fringe benefits for employees and engage in other revenue-boosting or cost-cutting measures.

Taxation of tobacco products raises severe economic and social concerns which should be taken into account when formulating further tobacco taxation policies, including on novel tobacco products. Increased education rather than higher excise duties should be the main policy.

The European Commission has presented a new proposal on the System of Own Resources of the European Union. If agreed on, the provisions of this proposal shall apply from January 1, 2021 - except the provisions regarding the CCCTB.

The definition of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is an important issue, regarding not only a number of European policies that have been set up to ensure these SMEs benefit from financial support, fee reduction, reduced administrative burden, etc.

In late June the Lithuanian Parliament adopted a law that consolidated the employer and employee base for social security contributions and significantly cut the rate of contributions.

LFMI has just released its latest paper \"Labor Migration and Flexibility of Regulation for Employing Non-EU Nationals\". It addresses the economic effects of migration and implications of employing non-EU nationals and provides a cross-country legislative and policy analysis on the flexibility of hiring of non-EU nationals.

The Lithuanian Free Market Institute is pleased to announce a conference Can We Do More to Boost Lithuania\'s Competitiveness?, which will be held on July 9, 2018, in Vilnius in cooperation with the Heritage Foundation and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Lithuania.

Regulation of retail opening hours is applicable in 14 out of 30 European countries. The range of the regulation varies widely across the countries, as evidenced by a variety of exemptions. Yet, the bans fail to achieve their objectives: a number of European countries have gone through deregulation.

Energy Taxation Directive (ETD) claims to improve the Single Market, promote energy efficiency, and contribute to jobs and growth. In reality, it fails to achieve these objectives. The research by LFMI suggests that in 2012 the grey market for fuel comprised nearly 20 percent of the market for transportation fuel.