English
Obserwator Finansowy features views and analysis of economy in Poland and other countries, written by some of the best journalists, economists and analysts. Our mission is to share knowledge of economics and financial markets in the world.
Obserwator Finansowy is a project under aegis of the Poland’s central bank, Narodowy Bank Polski. We have published thousands of articles about the Polish and global economy. Our journalists have conducted hundreds of interviews with Nobel laureates, distinguished economists, business leaders and politicians with views across the political spectrum.
In this section you can find selected articles in English.
Can Europe survive without foreign workers?
Vedran ObućinaThe coronavirus shock in the first phase of the crisis caused various types of imbalances in the markets of goods, services, property and labor. Unravelling these imbalances requires time to adjust but some countries don’t...
In Europe ultimate beneficial owners are still mainly hidden
Filip BrokešFollowing a series of money-laundering scandals the European Commission is stepping up in the fight against financial crime. Warning of gaps and weaknesses in national AML systems, it calls for a unified, European approach...
Fashion industry: the Emperor’s New Clothes
Mirosław CiesielskiThe fashion world, including the clothing industry, is undergoing profound changes, and the crisis will only deepen the previously observed negative trends. The entire value chain is being rebuilt due to the expected changes...
US-Ukraine gas plans could put Warsaw in pole position
Jo HarperIn May, the Ukrainian government preliminarily approved the text of a memorandum on the prospects for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) from the US. The agreement envisages supplies of 5.5 billion cubic meters (bcm) of...
In Ukraine small is not beautiful
Michał KozakUkrainian small and medium-sized entrepreneurs (SME) are complaining that government does not see them as the foundation of a healthy economy and favors big business. The lockdown have hurt SMEs the most, which could...
Not all bets are off: Polish gambling sector hit by downturn
Jo HarperIn late June, figures from the Polish Ministry of Finance showed that gambling revenues in Poland declined in the first five months of 2020, although newly regulated products helped mitigate drops in online betting and...
New apartments for rent in Europe
Filip BrokešThe tourism industry has been one of the most affected by the pandemic. Hoteliers and other holiday property owners are facing bankruptcies. And residents of Europe’s most popular cities rejoice as thousands of apartments...
Hungary’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Dominik HéjjThe first two cases of patients with COVID-19 in Hungary were revealed on March 4th, 2020. This was the moment when institutional measures were launched in order to stop the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 on the one hand, and, on...
What is China doing in Belarus?
Bogdan GóralczykBelarus became an important country for the European Union, and most of all, for Germany and France. It has always been important for Russia. In recent years, however, the group of countries interested in Belarus was joined...
Coronavirus hit the clothing industry
Obserwator FinansowyAccording to the initial summary of retail trade volumes in the first month of the lockdown in the European Union, sale of clothesffered the most as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. The volume of sales fell by 40 per...