Institute for Market Economics

Bulgaria has experienced a significant decline in its nursing workforce, with over 10% of nurses lost in the past decade, according to an analysis by the Institute for Market Economics. This has led to growing concerns over the shortage of nurses in the country, especially as the number of doctors has slightly increased.

Eurostat's latest figures reveal that Bulgaria ranks last in the EU for lifelong learning, with only 1.4% of Bulgarians participating in educational activities last year. This figure is nearly ten times lower than the EU average, indicating a significant lack of interest among Bulgarians aged 25 to 64 in continuing education.

Over the past 15 years, Bulgaria has been a leading nation in investing in water and sanitation infrastructure, according to an analysis from the Institute for Market Economics. The report, featured in their regular weekly newsletter, reveals that Bulgaria's investment levels are only lower than those of Slovenia and Estonia, due to their significantly smaller populations and land areas.

Sofia, the vibrant capital of Bulgaria, is experiencing a surge in its economic landscape, surpassing the average European standard of living, according to senior researcher Peter Ganev from the Institute for Market Economics.

In a recent release of the Authoritarian Populism Index 2024, Bulgaria emerges as a focal point for understanding the intricate interplay of political ideologies shaping Europe's landscape. Published by Timbro and EPICENTER, the index, presented in Bulgarian by the Institute for Market Economics, offers a comprehensive analysis spanning decades of electoral dynamics.

In a comprehensive analysis conducted by Institute for Market Economics (IME) Senior Economist Adrian Nikolov, Bulgaria's labor market is forecasted to face a severe shortage of skilled workers, potentially reaching half a million individuals within the next three to five years.

The Institute for Market Economics (IME) presented its fifth annual initiative with a map showcasing average salaries by municipalities throughout the country in 2022. This map provides a valuable perspective on the country's economy, revealing how successful examples of development are not limited to major cities but are also observed in smaller industrial municipalities.

The pandemic melted 7 times the money that our compatriots abroad send to their relatives in Bulgaria. For the first 7 months of the year, they transferred only 98 million euros, according to BNB data. For comparison, in 2019 Bulgarians abroad sent home a record over 1 billion euros.

"The last National Assembly increased the monthly maternity benefits from 194 euro to 332 euro, and that is a populist move and does not stimulate the resolution of the demographic crisis," Zornitsa Slavova from the Institute for Market Economics said for the BNR.

Bulgaria ranks 36th among 165 countries and territories in Frasers's 2021 Economic Freedom of the World Annual Report, losing four positions from last year, said Tuesday the Institute for Market Economics (IME) which is the local partner of Fraser Institute.
A year earlier Bulgaria was 32nd in the ranking.