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Cartels and monopolies will not collapse on their own
Sebastian StodolakMonopolies using their market power to suppress competition and raise prices pose a genuine threat to GDP growth. They can hurt it as much as poor economic policy, says Professor Jonathan B. Baker from the American...
Rising house prices in Europe
Obserwator FinansowyThe rate of growth of housing prices in the European Union slightly accelerated in 2018. In Poland, real estate prices increased faster than in the preceding year, and the increases were stronger in the secondary market than...
EU steel industry braces for new nail in its coffin
Jo HarperUS Steel Kosice (USSK) plans to cut a fifth of its workforce in Slovakia over the next two years. EU steel markets face weak demand, protectionism and high iron ore and coking coal prices.
Asian e-car battery makers opens a plant in Hungary
Jo HarperSouth Koreaʼs Bumchun Precision plans to build a HUF13.3bn (EUR41m) plant supplying parts for electric cars in northern Hungary. The Hungarian government will provide HUF2.65bn for the construction of the plant, which will...
Croatia wants to renationalize its oil&gas company
Vedran ObućinaFor almost three years Croatia is trying to renationalize its major oil&gas company INA. Hungarian MOL is the major shareholder with 49.1 per cent of shares, while the Croatian government has 44.8 per cent of shares.
Russian TV is dying
Filip BrokešA mere 10 years ago, television was by far the most important source of information about the world for most Russians (94 percent). Today, only 72 percent of Russians use their TV sets to get new.
Western Balkans with the largest inflow of greenfield investment
Jo HarperIn 2018, the Western Balkans recorded the largest inflow of greenfield direct investment (FDI) with the value of USD9.36bn in 2018, the highest amount since 2003, according to the fDi report
Ukraine will lift the ban on agricultural land trade
Michał KozakThe Ukrainian chernozem (“black soil”) resources, which are among the largest in the world, have long attracted the attention of various domestic and foreign entities. Chernozem is the most fertile soil.
Poland’s waste disposal a burning issue
Jo HarperDeputy Minister of the Environment Slawomir Mazurek said the government would be hard on illegal incineration of waste in Poland. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki even threatened to ban the import of waste until the system...
Security vs technological progress Russia
Filip BrokešIn a surprising move Russian President Vladimir Putin refused to grant the frequencies widely used for 5G networks to domestic telecommunication networks operators and decided to reserve these frequencies for the military...