Right from the start of the Great Recession the current account deficit shrunk with 62% in 2009, got to the relatively low level of 376 million euro in 2010 (around 1% of GDP) and turned into surplus of 361 million euro (close to 1% of GDP) in 2011. By doing so, all experts, who continuously scared the people with this “huge current account deficit”, which we were suppose to believe was extremely dangerous for our…
Just recently the Ministry of Finance issued 5-year external debt in euro, with annual coupon of 4,25% and annual yield of 4,436%. The total value of the issue was EUR 950 million, while the submitted bids stood at over EUR 6 billion. The issue was oversubscribed in just 30 minutes from hitting the screens and the investors’ interest was sizable. The debt issue was successful by all indicators – attracted investors’ interest, easily oversubscribed and…
In Bulgaria, during the years 2000-2009, there has been an increase from 21% to 46% in the employment rate of people aged 55-64 years old.
The Ministry of Economy finally published the eagerly-awaited plan for amendments to the Law on Protection of Competition (LPC). The newly proposed texts in the LPC are, for all points and purposes, a reaction to the ‘drama’ between the suppliers and the supermarket chains. It is no secret to anyone that the government feels compelled to solve this “problem” and legislation on competition is the shortest way for government (political) intervention into these relationships. The…
On July 3, the Institute for Мarket Еconomics (IME) presented its analysis on the condition of “Bulgarian Posts” in the context of liberalization of postal services in the EU and Bulgaria. The round table took place at the “Sofia” hall of Grand Hotel “Sofia”. Amongst the participants there were representatives of: The Ministry of Economy, Energy and Tourism (MEET); Ministry of Transport, Information Technologies and Communications (MTITC); “Bulgarian Posts”; the Communications Regulation Commission (CRC) and…
Institute for Market Economics (IME) is pleased to herald the publication of the 2012 International Property Rights Index (IRPI), the world’s most comprehensive measure of…
The European Central Bank (ECB) published its Convergence Report(2012), in which it evaluates the progress of the members states that have committed themselves to joining the euro by following the convergence criteria, better known as the “Maastricht” criteria. At this point in time, Bulgaria has passed the requirements for deficit, debt, inflation and long-term interest rates, but this does not mean automatically that the road to the euro is open. What is more important, the…
In most recent years a famous graph, showing how deep the recession is in the UK and what is the path of recovery, appeared periodically. The graph is made by the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) and compares the profile of the worst recessions in the UK over the past 100 years. The graph clearly shows that the last economic decline from 2008 is the longest of all compared episodes and that…
The Institute for Market Economics (IME) presented its view on the performance of the economy, putting the focus on the labor market and the job creation in a time of crisis. The latest data from Eurostat shows that more and more European countries are again in a recession and that Bulgarian growth is weakening in the end of 2011. It seems that Bulgaria is also heading towards a recession in 2012. The labor market is…
Institute for Market Economics Cordially invites you to a press conference Jobs During Crisis: A Flexible Approach To Labor Market Regulations The Institute for Market Economics (IME) will present its view on the performance of the economy, putting the focus on the labor market and the job creation in a time of crisis. The following questions will be discussed: Are Bulgaria and the EU facing a new recession? How is employment developing in…
