Articles in 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.
Czech budget in the worst shape since 1993
The Czech government approved the Finance Ministry’s proposal to increase the state deficit to CZK300bn (EUR10.9bn), up from the previously estimated CZK100bn (EUR3.6bn). This is already the worst budgetary performance...
Central bankers must be able to say no to governments
We should not compare today’s crisis to the previous one, says Paul Tucker, former Deputy Governor of Bank of England. And what central banks are doing is, according to him, not business as usual but they have a reason: a...
Visegrad Group is less sensitive to the slowdown in Western Europe
The rate of economic growth in Poland and the Visegrad Group countries (Czech Republic, Hungaary, Slovakia and Poland; V4) has not reflected the markedly weaker economic situation in Germany and the Eurozone countries over...
Recurring fiscal problems
So far, Poland has maintained strong economic growth for several years. Thanks to that, the situation of public finances has also improved. The crisis we will face in the coming months and the need to increase spending to...
Russian Sberbank has a new owner
The Central Bank of the Russian Federation sold its 50 per cent+1 share in Sberbank, Russia’s largest financial institution, to the Russian Finance Ministry. Although officially carried out to avoid conflict of interest,...
Unconditional basic income — necessary or not?
Spain will be the first European country to introduce the Unconditional Basic Income (UBI). Nadia Calvino, the deputy prime minister, said that UBI might become a structural and permanent instrument, not only a temporary way...
Innovative chats do not support innovation
“We have become a victim to the mania of talking about innovation and have neglected other important areas of the economy, i.e. people who make the world go round but who do not invent new products,” says professor Lee...
Russia’s reserves quickly depleting
The falling oil prices combined with the extra-budgetary spending requirements needed to support ailing businesses means that Russia’s National Welfare Fund will most likely be empty much earlier than previously thought....
Corona bonds may repeat the euro bonds’ fate
Despite the financial markets having suffered losses in the first instance — spurring the European Central Bank decision to inject EUR750bn into the system — it is the real economy which will be the hardest hit by...
How does Europe deal with problem banks?
In 2010, former Governor of the Bank of England, Mervin King, said that “large, complex financial institutions are global — at least in life if not in death.” He highlighted the lack of an international framework for...