Lithuania

From 2012 to 2014 Lithuania increased its minimum monthly wage by almost one third (from 800 Litas in 2012 to 1,035 Litas in 2014). There are suggestions to increase the minimum wage in 2015 even more the supporters of the idea claim that companies would adapt. But is it all that simple? According to the survey conducted by LFMI, minimum wage increases come at a cost and they eventually bring several negative consequences.

After a long negotiation between milk producers, processors and sellers, the Lithuanian Ministry of Agriculture has proposed a new bill that would severely tighten the regulation of the Lithuanian dairy market. The authors of the bill claim that their intention is to protect Lithuanian producers, bring confidence to the market and boost the consumption of milk products. But […]

This year the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) has launched a new initiative “Let’s Agree” which is aimed at promoting a better-informed, constructive dialogue and peaceful agreement within local communities on issues relating to investment promotion and environment protection in Lithuania.

Former LFMI\'s President and long-time fellow Remigijus Simasius won the Vilnius City mayor’s post in Lithuania’s first direct mayoral elections, beating incumbent Mayor Arturas Zuokas in the March 15th run-off thus securing 61% of the vote.

These local elections are historically the most successful, 9 city and district Mayors from Vilnius to Klaipėda will be liberals, – says The Chairman of Liberal Movement Eligijus Masiulis. Nine elected Mayors will govern Lithuanian cities and districts of municipalities in which, according to Department of Statistics, is located almost 883,500 of the population.

A survey conducted by the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) shows that a rise in the minimum wage negatively affects Lithuania’s businesses and hurts workers. Of the 181 companies questioned, every third said that the 2012 and 2013 increases in the minimum wage had a negative impact on their businesses

The use of optimistic projections would pose no problems if budget expenditures were trimmed, automatically, in lockstep with shrinking budget revenue. Sadly, this is not the case.

The 34th edition of the Survey of the Lithuanian Economy provides forecasts of the main economic indicators for 2015 that are based on a poll of market participants.

The chairman of the Central Bank of Lithuania will become a member the Governing Council of the European Central Bank, which is responsible for monetary policy for the euro area. Thus, if Lithuania wants to properly represent it‘s interests, it has to join the debate concerning decisions of the ECB.

Every one of us pays taxes daily and yet only a few could tell how much exactly they pay in taxes per month or per year. The Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) launched a new tax calculator “Moku mokesčius” (“I Pay the Taxes”), which not only allows Lithuanians to see how much they pay in taxes but also shows how their money is then spent.