Inflation hits 24.5 percent in December
Saturday, January 21st, 2023As year-on-year inflation breaks another record, economists wonder if rapidly rising prices have any potential benefit. READ MORE
Fears of potential Hungarian default
Thursday, August 18th, 2022Economic analysts across the political spectrum comment on opposition suggestions about a looming default.
Former National Bank President predicts restrictions
Saturday, January 8th, 2022György Surányi, who served as President of the National Bank under a socialist-liberal government in the 1990s, sees monetary and fiscal restrictions as necessary. A pro-government economist dismisses the suggestion and accuses Surányi of serving foreign interests. READ MORE
Mortgage interest rates capped
Friday, December 24th, 2021The leading independent online business news outlet doubts that the government’s decision to freeze mortgage interest rates will help to keep surging inflation at bay. READ MORE
Left-wing concerns about public deficit
Friday, November 19th, 2021A left-wing columnist questions government statements about the health of public finances – echoing alarm expressed by the President of the National Bank over high government expenditures. READ MORE
National Bank President urges fiscal readjustment
Wednesday, November 17th, 2021In an opinion piece in the main pro-government daily, National Bank president György Matolcsy warns that a high public deficit and the worsening trade balance make Hungary vulnerable to international financial shocks and demands swift action. READ MORE
Loan repayment moratorium extended again
Monday, September 20th, 2021Two liberal commentators find the government’s decision to keep the loan repayment moratorium in force beyond the 2022 election controversial and potentially counterproductive. READ MORE
Matolcsy cautions against rushed introduction of Euro
Friday, August 6th, 2021A left-wing commentator disagrees with the National Bank governor, who does not consider as timely the adoption of the common European currency. A conservative economist remarks that Hungary cannot in any case rapidly introduce the Euro – thanks to the previous Socialist-Liberal governments. READ MORE
Monetary experts warn against high debt
Saturday, March 20th, 2021Two chief economists of the Hungarian National Bank dismiss the suggestion, broadly held among left-wing US economists, that governments have no reason to worry about high levels of public debt. READ MORE
Prospects of economic recovery
Saturday, February 6th, 2021A left-wing economist fears that the growing public debt will undermine the economic recovery after the coronavirus crisis. A conservative analyst, on the other hand, points out that Hungarian average wages dropped the least in the EU, while the increase in public debt has also remained lower than the EU average. READ MORE