business

In recent years, Slovakia has been engaged in a debate about being \"stuck in the middle-income trap,\" about having \"exhausted our growth model,\" and about the need to move \"from assembly line to brain gain.\" This debate matters. The trouble is that its vocabulary tempts us into a far too mechanical view of prosperity. Let me explain what I mean.

More than four years into Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian businesses continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience. Yet, the results of the latest New Monthly Enterprises Survey (NRES), conducted by the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER) in May 2026, suggest that signs of a slower economic recovery are becoming increasingly visible.

An institution is never only a norm. It is also the extent to which people are willing to treat that norm as binding — and the methods they reach for when they are not.

Even in the fourth year of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukrainian businesses continue to view the customs system more positively than negatively. Yet, the latest survey of exporters and importers suggests that the focus of reform is changing.

The Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) warns that, after the recent tax reform, Lithuanian businesses are facing another major regulatory challenge — the implementation of the EU Pay Transparency Directive.

The study commissioned by the Civil Development Forum (FOR) was conducted by Opinia24 between 17 and 21 March 2025 on a sample of 1,000 respondents. The sample was representative of the adult population of Poland in terms of gender, age, education and place of residence (rural areas and cities of different sizes), as well as voting preferences expressed in the 15 October 2023 election. 

The government’s acceptance of more than 190 deregulation proposals was good news. Yet, the overall balance of this “year of deregulation” shows that Poland still lacks a coherent philosophy of lawmaking. Deregulation should not consist of isolated corrections implemented while new, unstable, and excessive regulations are produced at the same time.

In late August 2025, the Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting (IER) released the results of its 40th monthly Business Tendency Survey, covering 474 industrial enterprises across Ukraine. The findings paint a picture of cautious optimism in the short term, but deep uncertainty over the longer horizon.

In September 2024, the business climate in Ukraine shows positive changes. In recent months, companies\' production and financial performance have increased, and expectations for further development remain optimistic.

Ukraine is experiencing an intense heat wave, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius. The situation is exacerbated by frequent power outages, lasting 15 to 18 hours a day, rendering air conditioners useless. These power shortages, the result of significant damage to Ukraine\'s power infrastructure caused by Russian military actions in March and April 2024, are profoundly impacting the daily lives of Ukrainians daily lives and business operations.