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.
Fintechs try to find a way out from crisis
Despite the increase in non-cash payments during the pandemic, the fintech sector generally did not record an increase in profitability. They face difficulties in financing and a turnover drop, as well as in number of...
Digital exclusion increasingly more painful
Almost half of the global population still is not using the internet. During the pandemic being offline makes it difficult or even impossible to access many goods, services and social benefits, thereby deepening social...
The global economy is becoming more local
Global FDI flows may decrease by up to 40 per cent in 2020 as a result of the pandemic. The entrepreneurs must first count the losses, assess the future demand, and above all, accumulate profits which ultimately finance most...
If the bureaucracy wants to be innovative, it has to be smart
The pandemic crisis is an opportunity to rethink the role of the state in the economy. Professor Rainer Kattel, an economist from University College in London, argues that administration can foster innovation and that the...
The global banking sector in the pandemic
The global financial crisis originated in the banking system, first in the US, and then in Europe. The 2009 recession was the consequence of the banks’ freeze on lending and the resulting uncertainty. Today, the situation...
COVID-19 will lead to higher unemployment in Ukraine
The lockdown measures have hurt both the Polish and the Ukrainian economy, but the strength of the impact is not the same. The long-term effects in the two countries will also be different. Unemployment may turn out to be...
BaaS — banking without a license
Banking-as-a-service (BaaS) is a process in which banks provide access to the back-office to third parties. This enables the latter to offer financial services without the need of obtaining banking licenses and possessing...
Catching up with the “old” EU, but not quite there yet
The difference in the consumption level in Poland and the EU average is narrowing. Polish incomes are lagging behind other EU member states, but the prices are also much lower. However, Romania is catching up with the more...
Central banks in March – the first reaction to the pandemic
The central banks of the world’s major economies responded relatively quickly to the economic and financial threats caused by the pandemic by using several measures. The goal was to ensure the availability of preferential...
Belarus quickly depletes financial reserves
As the political crisis in Belarus increases, banks find themselves under severe pressure. With an ever growing number of people withdrawing money, the National Bank of Belarus has no choice but to sell its reserves on...