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.

Hungarian government wants to tap private bank accounts in Switzerland
The Hungarian government approached the Swiss government with a request for information concerning Hungarian citizens’ bank accounts in Switzerland. Budapest would like to have a bilateral agreement granting it access to...

One out of every six Russian businessmen is imprisoned as a result of efforts to expropriate assets by illegitimate means
William Browder, a grandson of the former General Secretary of the Communist Party USA, became one of the biggest foreign investors in Russia at the end of the 1990s. Mr. Browder, CEO of Hermitage Capital, who was initially...

In International Trade Sometimes They Can Hear You Scream
Making a very loud fuss when things don't go your way may be ineffective for small children with stern parents – but it is often a fairly effective strategy when it comes to international trade policy, something that...

The patriarch of Wall Street – energetic advocate of prudence
New York has an inhabitant who has taken to his heart the birthday wishes of “may you live long years”. Irving Kahn is 107 years old. He works every day, from Monday to Friday, in his office in Manhattan where he manages...

No reason to be afraid of euro
An interview with prof. Rudolf Sivák, rector of University of Economics in Bratislava about Slovakian experiences with euro.

Taxpayers under an even more watchful eye of the revenue office
In 2013, the Minister of Finance will prepare for taxpayers modified regulations concerning, among others, limited joint-stock partnerships, proxies and VAT deductions on cars and fuel. Maciej Grabowski, Deputy Minister of...

Agriculture can be freed from KRUS
The preferential system of social insurance for farmers is a deviation from the rule of uniform treatment of all citizens and a thorn in the flesh of reformers of public economy and finance. At the same time, it is a bastion...

Starting adult life with a student loan debt
Americans are terrified when looking at the rapidly growing debt resulting from student loans. The situation is further complicated by the increase in unemployment. In order to repay their loans, over one third of...

What would happen if LOT went bankrupt?
LOT, the Polish national air carrier, wishes to apply for a considerable public aid amounting to PLN 400 million (about EUR 98 million), but needs as much as PLN 1 billion. Meanwhile, the prospect of the company's...

FIAT’s decision presages the end of an era of easy successes
The Italian Fiat decided to close one of its manufacturing plants in Tychy, Poland. In 2013, Fiat's output in Poland will drop from 650 thousand two years ago to as little as 300 thousand cars. The problems of the Polish...