News
W.Stacey, AmCham CZ: Higher wages depend on more productive research
In mid-July, I had the privilege of participating in a discussion on dividends, sector taxes, and, ultimately, economic strategy with some influential and interesting economic policymakers, including Josef Stredula of the Unions, Karel Havlicek of Association of Small Businesses, and Radek Spicar of the Confederation of Industry. Everyone at the table deals with these issues daily, and do not agree on many details. This can sometimes lead to the conclusion that they agree on nothing. That is not true. In such a situation, sometimes it is necessary to widen the angle of the lens and, once you see the wider landscape, you can refocus.
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ING Czech Republic: Czech inflation decelerates amid lower food prices
Inflation decelerated to 2.3% in July from 2.6% in the previous month. This weaker print was driven mainly by lower food prices but core inflation accelerated further. This is no game changer for the central bank's hawkish outlook for this year.
Publication „Srovnání českého a slovenského zákoníku práce“
ING Bank Czech Republic: Czech unemployment rate rises, but so do job vacancies
The Czech unemployment rate rose slightly in July, an often-seen seasonal effect. But the labour market is still tight and job vacancies increased to new historical highs.
Eventex: Czech Republic among Top 20 destinations for meetings and events
The Global Event Awards celebrate the most innovative, creative and effective events from around the world. Since 2009 more than а thousand entries from over 85 countries have competed for the prestigious Eventex Awards.
ING Bank Czech Republic: Czech foreign trade solid in 1H (under circumstances)
The foreign trade balance reached a CZK98.5 billion surplus in the first half of 2018, ending below last year's level due to stronger investments, higher oil prices and a deceleration in car exports. But this is still reasonable result given a 5% strengthening in the koruna, constrained capacity of Czech producers and weaker foreign demand.
Strategic Directions for Czech Economic Policy
- 1) The home of value-added manufacturing
- 2) Prague-Brno-Ostrava Creative Triangle
- 3) Health Care as an export industry
- 4) Government as a competitive advantage
Advocacy Priorities for 2018-2020
People
1. Setting a predictable policy for economic immigration based on the goal of maintaining current levels of employment for Czech citizens and wage growth that corresponds to productivity growth.
2. Establishing incentives for companies and individuals to provide the qualifications and skills necessary for the automation of production and service industries.
3. Introducing machine and computer programming as a required language in elementary and high schools.
4. Improving the Healthy Life Years of the workforce and overall population through better prevention programs, better diagnostics, and better treatment.
Infrastructure
1. Develop a plan for developing and maintaining an integrated rail, road and air commercial logistics systems.
2. Integrate the Prague airport into the national commuter network.
3. Increase digital infrastructure capacity throughout country.
4. Develop a housing plan that will create more entry-level housing in Prague and Brno for purchase or rent.
Technology
1. Reform investment incentives to concentrate on product research, development and production.
2. Establish policy objectives in the area of health, energy, transport, environment and other areas and use these objectives for allocating public research funds.
3. Require major public procurements to use objective and measurable criteria for innovation.
Read the document in English.
Policy pipeline
In Policy Pipeline policy developments in the Czech Republic and abroad are monitored to bring better understanding of current topics and trends.
