30-04-2013
Over the past three years the share of European Union
(EU) citizens who want to be self-employed has fallen from 45% to 37%, reports
European Commission (EC). This year EC highlighted the need for more
entrepreneurs in order to return the EU to economic growth and higher levels of
employment. However, historical, cultural and economic background of diverse European
countries has significant effects on attitudes towards entrepreneurs in
European countries. Lack of in-depth knowledge might determine future revival
of entrepreneurship in Europe, reveals the study by Lithuanian Free Market
Institute (LFMI) today presented in Brussels.
25-04-2013
The European Union and
Member States lose billions in unpaid taxes every year from counterfeit and
smuggled goods. Senior-level tax policy, tax administration and customs
officials as well as academics, experts from Eastern European and other countries
gather today in Vilnius for the two-day conference to address a range of issues
involving the shadow economy. The International Conference on the Shadow
Economy and Taxation is jointly organized by the International Tax and
Investment Center (ITIC) and the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI).
26-03-2013
Lithuanians associate
an entrepreneur more with positive features and input to the economic wellbeing
of the country, than with negative. Lithuanians see entrepreneurs more as hard
working (38%), risk taking (35%) and less as cheating (13%) or selfish (11%).
As well the majority of Lithuanians (74%) see entrepreneurs and businesses as
creators of economic growth in the country. However, Lithuanians tend to give
less credit for innovation and creation as important features of entrepreneurs'
work.
20-03-2013
Lithuanian Free Market Institute presents the thirty first Survey of
Lithuanian Economy. This survey first time was launched back in 1997.
During the period we have realized, that new and important topics emerge
in Lithuanian and world economics. Therefore, a more indepth analysis
must be made. From now on the Survey of the Lithuanian Economy will have
a leading topic, meaning that in every new survey important economic
issues for Lithuania and the rest of the world will be covered. The
topic of this survey is – business cycles. In the first and second parts
of the survey the causes of business cycle and its impact on European
and Lithuanian economy will be presented.
14-03-2013
LFMI made a thorough analysis of European Commission’s
proposal for the Tobacco directive (2001/37/EC), related public consultation
and scientific evidence which was used in developing the proposal and provides
comments and suggestions regarding the proposal.
07-03-2013
Smuggling
and consumption of illegal goods is justified by a large share of Lithuanians,
Latvians and Estonians. 62% of Lithuanians, 51% of Latvians and 31% of Estonians,
completely justify or rather justify smuggling and consumption of illegal goods
such as cigarettes, alcohol products and fuel. Similarly, a large share of
population in all three Baltic States thinks that the use of smuggled and
illegal goods such as cigarettes, alcohol products and fuel has increased in
2012.
07-02-2013
The budget of the European Union
could function at half of the proposed cost to EU taxpayers while boosting
economic growth, according to a new report, 50:50 for 2020,-
published
in Brussels today. The report is written by Lithuanian Free Market
Institute senior expert Kaetana Leontjeva and presented
by New Direction - The Foundation for European Reform.
18-01-2013
The Government appointed a working group to review the current tax
system. LFMI senior expert Kaetana Leontjeva will be a member of this working group.
08-01-2013
New Zealand leads the world in human freedom, followed by the
Netherlands then Hong Kong with the United States and Denmark tied for
seventh, according to the most complete index of human freedom yet
available, released today by the Fraser Institute, Canada’s leading
public policy think-tank, and Germany’s Liberales Institut.
03-01-2013
Register for the Think Tank School in Leuven, Belgium till February 1! What is It About? Topics of the seminar include: fundraising, communication, strategic
planning and coalition building.
21-12-2012
LFMI wishes everyone Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
21-12-2012
From the 21st of December, 2012 a long-time employee
Rūta Vainienė is leaving Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI). R.Vainienė
was the special expert for the last year at LFMI. New members will join LFMI team shortly.
07-12-2012
The
core stones of the EU have always been 4 freedoms what made the Union desirable
and promising. However, the EU enlargement is not only physical – with new members
joining, but also increasing in powers and regulatory fields. With Lisbon
Agreement the EU evolved from an economic to ‘socio-economic’ union which
caused the official shift from freedoms to more restrictions and regulation.
Thus, nowadays the consequences of the enlargement depend on the chosen further
direction: getting back to the promotion of 4 freedoms or expanding rigid
regulation on markets.
06-12-2012
Lithuanian Free Market Institute for the second time releases
Municipality Index 2012. The index ranks 60 municipalities in Lithuania
according to economic freedom.
15-11-2012
Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) introduces the new periodical publication “Lithuanian Shadow Economy“. The publication provides data about shadow economy in Lithuania and more specific data and insights in alcohol, fuel and cigarette markets. Figures report growing trend of the Lithuanian shadow economy since 2008.
22-10-2012
New IEA paper shows the Treasury is losing as much as £1.2 billion every year to the illegal alcohol industry in UK.
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30-05-2012
LFMI proposes a solution for restoring sound money in Europe.
17-05-2012
LFMI proposes to declare this date Taxpayer Appreciation Day.
04-05-2012
"Countries should prepare themselves for possible contractions before
they come, identifying wasteful programs, stipulating priorities in
government spending and being ready to cut the less relevant spending.
Government spending should not be rigid and disregarding economic
realities, instead it should adjust itself according to budget revenues.
This is the only way to avoid painful tax increases, which do not
always bring in more revenues and only deepen the recessions." | Kaetana Leontjeva, IREF
24-04-2012
A summary of the European Think Tank School for CEE Think Tanks in Vilnius.
12-04-2012
Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians think that the primary cause of smuggling is taxes higher than the living standards in these countries, which generates differences in prices and gives rise to incentives to consume, or trade in, illegal goods. People of the three Baltic countries estimate that smuggling has been on the rise during the past three years. The largest portion of respondents who neither fully tolerate nor strictly condemn smuggling is in Lithuania. “Wages in envelopes” are the most spread in Latvia. Such results were revealed by a first representative sociological survey carried out in the three Baltic countries which was initiated by LFMI.
06-04-2012
Lithuania has signed the commonly called Fiscal Compact, without any analysis or critical approach – just like the bulk of other initiatives coming from the EU, greeted with open arms. It still needs to be ratified by the Lithuanian Seimas. The options are limited – since the content of the treaty cannot be changed anymore, it is a question of either to accept it or to reject it. In making this decision, it is necessary to ask, what we are seeking after all. | Article by LFMI’s Senior Fellow Rūta Vainienė
04-04-2012
It is not the currency as such, it is its credibility that matters.
12-03-2012
“When Lithuania missed the inflation criteria to join the eurozone, it was considered a big political failure. But given the present vulnerability of the eurozone, it may look like a windfall success. The LFMI survey shows that two-thirds of respondents think that the euro problems and the related risk of an export slump are the major sources of uncertainty and risk for companies today.” | LFMI’s Senior Fellow Rūta Vainienė, Libera’s blog
06-03-2012
LFMI's study shows that employment in Estonia is less and more flexibly regulated than in Lithuania.
14-02-2012
Market participants polled by LFMI project that the Lithuanian economy will grow at a lower rate in 2012 compared to 2011, the rate of unemployment will not fall and the growth of household income will moderate. The LFMI respondents think that the major sources of uncertainty and risk for the business sector this year will be the euro problems, potential changes in taxes and politicians’ populist decisions related with the upcoming parliamentary election. One-tenth of Lithuanian businesses intends or seriously considers the possibility to transfer activity abroad.
20-01-2012
LFMI recognized as one of the top think tanks in Central and Eastern Europe for the fifth year in a row and remains the only organisation from Lithuania ranked in the study of the world‘s top think tanks.
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