More Liberal Voices

More Liberal Voices is a project coordinated by the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI). Through this project we aspire to advance the liberal agenda in the EU decision-making process and to give an organized voice to liberal solutions by submitting rigorous analysis and responses to some key areas of public policy of the European Union. By pooling together the expert and advocacy capacities of the liberal-minded think-tanks in the 4Liberty network, we seek to multiply the outreach, visibility and impact of these groups in driving liberal policies in the EU agenda

Policy Papers

Policy Brief on Posting of Workers in the European Union

BY More Liberal Voices AND LFMI / October 3, 2016

Some old Member States request the principle of “equal pay for equal work in the same place”, meaning that posted workers would not receive lower pay than the minimum wage of the recipient country. During the discussion accusations of social dumping by new Member States with regard to old Member States surfaced.

Economy

Excise Taxes in the Czech Republic

BY Ales Rod AND More Liberal Voices / January 6, 2016

Tax rates are a political decision with fiscal impacts. And despite the fact that all voters are influenced by taxes, at least voters who have a strong opinion on the issue of excise duties (e.g. alcohol, tobacco, etc.) affect the election outcome.

Economy

Excise Duties on Alcohol in the EU

BY Peter Bence Stumpf AND More Liberal Voices / January 6, 2016

To better understand the need for a change in policy, this article first provides a brief overview of the current legislation and its implementation in member states and then looks at how current proposals for new minimum rates were formed. Finally, it evaluates whether increasing taxes on alcohol is the best course of action.

Economy, Politics

Deregulation or Death

BY Zilvinas Silenas, LFMI AND More Liberal Voices / December 8, 2015

Let’s be honest. Governments remember deregulation in their talks with businesses or during election campaigns. But they do not pay nearly as much attention to deregulation as they do to expanding regulatory obligations, increasing taxes, or telling people how to behave.

Economy

Renewable Energy Market Entry: Barriers and Imperfections

BY Michal Wach AND More Liberal Voices / December 8, 2015

The \"green mechanism\", which will become actually effective on 1 January 2016, should work. No sooner than next year we shall see, though, whether it will function effectively and meet the expectations of the majority of players.

Economy

Cash Payment Restrictions? No Solution to Shadow Economy

BY Vytautas Zukaukas, LFMI AND More Liberal Voices / December 6, 2015

Cash payment restrictions would increase individual and corporate expenses and would cause payment inconveniences. How would one be expected to make larger payments at weekends when interbank transfers are not made? A forced „banking“ of cash reduces competition among payments methods.

Economy

Energy: Market or Design?

BY Zilvinas Silenas, More Liberal Voices AND LFMI / December 1, 2015

There are those who view markets as functional (albeit imperfect) tools for economic decisions and those who think markets always fail at this task. Add to that the intricacies of the energy sector, and the discussion about markets in the energy sector becomes an argument between economists and engineers written down by lawyers.

Economy

Better Regulation in Poland Needed

BY Aleksander Laszek AND More Liberal Voices / November 22, 2015

A need for deregulation in Poland is recognized by the vast majority of both experts and politicians. Calls for deregulation echo in subsequent election campaigns, though to little effect. So why, despite a seemingly broad consensus, deregulation in Poland remains a problem?

Economy

The Effect of Harmonization of Corporate Tax Base in the EU

BY More Liberal Voices / November 18, 2015

The European Commission has re-launched the Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB) initiative. The renewed proposal for a CCCTB introduces a two-step approach: efforts will first concentrate on agreeing the rules for a Common Corporate Tax Base (CCTB), and consolidation will be left to be adopted at a later stage (CCCTB).

Economy

Electricity Tax Works Undercover

BY Martin Vlachynsky AND More Liberal Voices / November 10, 2015

Slovakia is experiencing situation common to many European economies. The price of electric energy on the market is falling, so is the overall consumption of electricity. And yet, the final price for consumers, especially in the industrial sector, remains high.