As the Minister of Finance and the President of the National Bank disagree on monetary policy, left-wing and pro-government analysts offer diametrically opposing views on the state of the Hungarian economy. READ MORE
Economic analysts give basically positive assessments of the government’s economic action plan which is intended to prolong fast growth. Some do not expect it to produce significant novelties. READ MORE
A pro-government commentator interprets the 4.1 GDP growth in the first quarter of 2017 as a vindication of the government’s economic vision. A left-wing columnist objects that the Hungarian economy’s competitiveness has declined. READ MORE
Centrist, conservative and pro-government columnists welcome the government’s plans to cut the deficit to zero by 2017 and thus reduce public debt. READ MORE
A conservative pundit welcomes the government’s plan to facilitate diversification in the industrial sector in order to make the country less dependent on car manufacturing. READ MORE
Left-wing and liberal commentators accuse the government of planning brutal cuts as Minister of National Economy Varga announces plans to reduce the rate of government spending. A conservative blogger suggests that the rate can be reduced without major austerity measures, provided the economy keeps growing at its current rate. READ MORE
Analysts wonder if it makes sense to increase public ownership in the banking sector. A pro-government commentator welcomes the decision, which he believes will help the economy, while a left-wing columnist warns against spending public money to consolidate MKB. READ MORE
Left-wing and liberal pundits harshly criticize the government’s bid for Dunaferr Steel Works after it announced the layoff of 1,500 employees. Critics suggest that renationalization will mean that taxpayers will have to shoulder the company’s losses. READ MORE
Commentators across the political spectrum ponder the possible impact of the IMF loan repayment and the conversion of foreign currency-based mortgages into Forint credit. READ MORE
A conservative pundit warns against a selective conversion of loans denominated in foreign currencies. He proposes that the National Bank should step in and offer part of its foreign currency reserves to convert all FX household loans into Forint credits. READ MORE