February - 2020

Gymnasiums loosing appeal

The share of grammar school graduates entering gymnasiums has risen from 5% in 1990 to 30% in 2017. In 2018-19 the share fell slightly to 29%. Industrial manufacturers welcome this trend as they face a shortage of candidates for less qualified positions. This is partly the result of state support for dual education, in which students spend part of their studies in companies. Analysts point out the risks of narrow specialization at an early age and prefer a wide-ranging educat

Marian Kočner sentenced to 19 years in jail

The Specialized Criminal Court sentenced Marian Kočner and Pavol Rusko to 19 years in jail for forging the €69m TV Markíza bills. The court explained the long sentence by the extraordinary value of the fraud. Both are expected to appeal the ruling, and the case will end up at the Supreme Court. They apparently devised their scheme in 2016, when Kočner had police, prosecutors, and judges in his pocket. The murder of journalist Ján Kuciak changed everything, as Robert Fico and

Marian Kočner odsúdený na 19 rokov väzenia

Špecializovaný trestný súd odsúdil Mariana Kočnera a Pavla Ruska k 19 rokov väzenia za falšovanie zmeniek TV Markíza v hodnote 69 mil. €. Za vysokým trestom je najmä vysoká výška pokusu o podvod. Obaja sa odvolajú a prípad pôjde na Najvyšší súd. Svoj plán na falošné zmeny zrejme vymysleli v roku 2016, keď mal Kočner pod palcom policajtov, prokurátorov aj sudcov. Zmenila to vražda novinára Jána Kuciaka, po ktorej museli odstúpiť Robert Fico a Robert Kaliňák. (dennikN.sk)

Gymnáziá už toľko nelákajú

Podiel absolventov základných škôl, ktorí sa hlásia na gymnáziá, stúpol z 5% v roku 1990 na 30% v roku 2017. V rokoch 2018-19 už ale mierne klesol na 29%. Otočenie trendu teší výrobné závody, ktoré čelia nedostatku uchádzačov o menej kvalifikované pozície. Čiastočne ide o dôsledok štátnej podpory duálneho vzdelávania, pri ktorej študenti trávia časť štúdia priamo vo firmách. Analytici ale upozorňujú na riziká úzkej špecializácie v skorom veku a preferujú prípravu ľudí pre nár

Coronavirus already impacts Slovak companies

The Žilina plant of Kia Motors announced some of its suppliers must cope with delayed delivery of parts from Chinese manufacturers. Many Chinese factories are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Bratislava Volkswagen plant and Nitra Jaguar Land Rover plant report no issues with Chinese deliveries. The Bratislava VW plant sources 80% of its parts from Slovakia, Germany, and Hungary. Electric device maker CRT Electronic from Oravská Lesná was forced to reduce production

Absence of reforms means Slovakia’s progress in catching up with the EU average has stalled

Slovakia is not using the favorable period of economic growth for necessary reforms and deficit reduction, and is lagging behind in key areas for future growth, according to the European Commission's regular report. It has stable yet slow economic growth and low unemployment, but last year 18 EU countries reported better budget performance. High taxes on labor, poor VAT collection, ageing population and speedy growth in retail debts are causes for concern. Given the absence o

Vláda ignorovala potrebu reforiem a Slovensko prestalo dobiehať západ

Slovensko nevyužíva dobré časy hospodárskeho rastu na štrukturálne reformy a na zníženie deficitu verejných financií a zaostáva v oblastiach kľúčových pre budúci rast, tvrdí pravidelná správa Európskej komisie. Krajina má stabilný hospodársky rast a nízku nezamestnanosť, ale vlani malo až 18 krajín EÚ lepšie výsledky štátneho rozpočtu. Problémom je aj vysoké zdanenie práce, slabý výber DPH, starnutie obyvateľstva a rýchly rast dlhov. Výsledkom absencie reforiem je, že od roku

Aj slovenské firmy trpia pre koronavírus

Žilinský závod Kia Motors oznámil, že registruje oneskorené dodávky niektorých čínskych dielov k svojim dodávateľom. Mnohé čínske závody sú zatvorené pre koronavírus. Bratislavský Volkswagen ani nitriansky Jaguar Land Rover sa zatiaľ meškajúcimi dodávkami dielcov z Číny necítia byť ohrození. VW nakupuje 80% dielov zo Slovenska, Nemecka a Maďarska. Pre chýbajúce diely z Číny musela obmedziť výrobu elektronických prístrojov firma CRT Electronic z Oravskej Lesnej. Výrobca bicykl

Slovak mobile phone operators have higher prices and profits

The prices of Slovak subsidiaries of mobile phone operators Deutsche Telekom and Orange are considerably higher than their prices in neighboring countries, and their profitability is also higher here, a comparison by the Trend weekly showed. However, an objective price comparison is impossible to make because of the plans’ complexity and a large number of incomparable benefits. According to an analysis of the European Commission, the Slovak prices are among the highest in the

Opposition leaders are wealthy former businessmen

All opposition leaders that are set to form a future ruling coalition are wealthy former businessmen and their companies have not made any business with the state. Igor Matovič (OĽaNO) sold his regional publisher in 2017 for €5m; Richard Sulík (SaS) sold his stake in FaxCopy for €2.7m in 2006; Michal Truban (PS/Spolu) and his partners sold webhosting firm Websupport for over €10m last year; Alojz Hlina (KDH) has several restaurants; Andrej Kiska (Za ľudí) and his brother sold

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