INESS

Why should an unelected official located somewhere thousands of kilometers away prohibit the tobacco manufacturer from adding even a garlic flavour if he wishes to do so, and why could not a consumer enjoy his or her favourite mint flavour?

Compared to the previous year, tax burden was on the rise – the average European employee pays more than 45% of income in taxes.

While German pensioners in retirement received on average 58% of their salary, Italians received 76%, Spaniards 84%, and Greek pensioners - 110%, more than their previous salary.

This week, the issue of financial transaction tax stirred the water again. Just a reminder, this tax (called Tobin’s tax) is planned in 11 EU countries, including Slovakia.

More and more thick storm clouds are gathering above the Netherlands, which is still perceived as one of the more responsible countries in Europe.

INESS released the Receipt for Government Services for 2013.

(...) for half a million rent for Baroness Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (have you ever imagined something like that exists?)

Crisis on Cyprus brought new tailwinds in the sails of the crisis in Europe and fully opened the question which had only been cautiously considered behind the scenes until now – how to deal with European banks?

Cyprus, along with Slovenia, has been in the shadows of the PIIGS problems already for quite few months.

Economic think tank INESS - Institute of Economic and Social Studies - based in Bratislava, Slovakia, has started accepting donations also in digital currency, Bitcoin, as one of the first European think tanks.