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IME response to the Roadmap for more efficient law-making in the field of taxation

Author: / 2019-01-17

The Institute for Market Economics (founded 1993) is the oldest free-market think tank in Bulgaria. While we have heralded the positive effect of Bulgaria being a member of the EU for more than 10 years now, we have also been increasingly concerned about some initiatives that aim to shift the Union away from its founding principles. Such is the case with the proposal to “explore how EU decision-making on certain tax issues could be streamlined by removing the need for unanimous agreement by all countries”. Here we present our arguments why we strongly oppose this proposal. All quotations are taken from the Roadmap published by the European Commission.

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IME REPORT: AFFORDABILITY OF CIGARETTES IN BULGARIA IS IMPROVING, BUT STILL 1.6-1.7 TIMES LOWER THAT THE EU AVERAGE

Author: / 2018-12-14

The Institute for Market Economic (IME) published a detailed analysis of price elasticity of tobacco product in Bulgaria and examination of affordability issues in respect to EU harmonization policy on excise duties. The report is part of IME initiative “By the book”*, which aims to study possible improvements in current policy and the ways to overcome institutional weaknesses which allow for illicit trade of tobacco products. The report covers the full period 2007-2018 and provides commentary on the recent public consultation on EU excise policy towards tobacco products.

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Support the 2018 "Europe & Liberty" Seminar in Bansko, Bulgaria

Author: / 2018-04-04

The summer seminar "Europe & Liberty", organised by the Institute for Market Economics (IME) and Institute for Economic Studies (IES - Europe) has been hugely successful in last seven years (2011-2017). Due to some funding issues, we invite you to support our initiative in 2018. The IME will host both a crowdfunding campaign and a direct fundraising campaign focused on IME donors and alumni of the seminar. The goal of the campaign is to fund participant costs - the seminar is completely free for those who take part in it.

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The fictitious "real convergence" criterion for the euro area

Author: Desislava Nikolova and Vesela Krastanova* / 2018-01-30

Even if there were an informal criterion for real convergence of incomes to the EU average, then Bulgaria would have fulfilled it. This is clearly evident from the decision to admit the three Baltic States to ERM II at income levels that had been lower or similar to those of Bulgaria at the moment. The other possible explanation lies in the domain of political hypocrisy and the use of euphemisms behind which European politicians (like most politicians) usually hide. Which of the two explanations is relevant to the case will be seen pretty soon if the Bulgarian Finance Minister fulfills his promise and files an application for euro adoption by June this year.

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IME response to the Roadmap for more efficient law-making in the field of taxation

IME REPORT: AFFORDABILITY OF CIGARETTES IN BULGARIA IS IMPROVING, BUT STILL 1.6-1.7 TIMES LOWER THAT THE EU AVERAGE

Support the 2018 "Europe & Liberty" Seminar in Bansko, Bulgaria

The fictitious "real convergence" criterion for the euro area

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Regional Profiles: Indicators of Development

The Transition That Never Happened

Poverty in Bulgaria