News
Coronavirus pandemic positively impacts sustainable private investments, public aid follows closely behind
The latest surveys and statistics show that investments into sustainable projects have been growing in the long term, also thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, it seems that ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) funds are more profitable than the traditional ones. The public sector is not lagging behind in aiding sustainable transformation; it is already possible to draw new funds on the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovations for Competitiveness (OPEIC), which can be used for driving innovation and more sustainable businesses. At a European level, new calls in the Horizon 2020 programme were announced which should help fulfil the goals of Green Deal. In addition, the European Commission published guidelines that will allow member states to compensate certain businesses for indirect costs in relation to the greenhouse gas emission trading scheme after 2021.
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Czech Republic: Household confidence falls in October
As the second wave of the pandemic surges, confidence in the Czech economy fell in October, mainly for services and consumers. But we think the figure is understated as the data isn't reflective of the latest partial lockdowns announced last week
Jan Švejnar in Discussion with Jeffrey Sachs
On 14 October Jan Švejnar was a guest speaker at Forum 2000 Conference - an annual discussion of global political, intellectual, spiritual, and business leaders founded by former Czech President Václav Havel, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Elie Wiesel, and philanthropist Yohei Sasakawa.
The second Czech coronavirus lock-down: the immediate impacts on businesses
After a steady increase of Covid-19 infections and a series of less restrictive measures, the Czech Republic's government imposed a wide-ranging retail and travel lock-down effective as of 22 October, 2020. Unlike the measures imposed in March, the current restrictions are less intrusive as regards business operations, in particular cross-border travel. However, local retail, entertainment and hospitality businesses will be affected almost as heavily as in the spring.
Compensation bonus for the self-employed and small limited liability company members is back
On 16 October 2020, the government approved a bill on compensation bonuses for entrepreneurs predominantly operating their business within closed segments of the economy. The bill proposes a compensation bonus of CZK 500 for every calendar day of the bonus period.
Strategic Directions for Czech Economic Policy
- Transition to High-Tech Manufacturing and Exports
- The City Campus as Idea Factory
- Government Programs and Processes That Drive Innovation
- Government as a Competitive Advantage, including Digitization
Advocacy Priorities for 2023
Technology, People, Infrastructure
Actions Recommended in Areas:
1. Establishing Policy Objectives for Research.
2. Research Investment and Cooperation. Big Bets (Key Technology Projects).
3. Establishing Databases for Tracking Public Policy Outcomes.
4. Public Procurement as an Innovation Tool.
5. Immigration of STEM Talents.
6. Digitization of Immigration.
7. Adult Reskilling and Upskilling.
8. Digitization of Land Use.
9. Infrastructure Development, including Technology Parks.
Read the documents in English and Czech.
Policy pipeline
In Policy Pipeline policy developments in the Czech Republic and abroad are monitored to bring better understanding of current topics and trends.
