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Challenges facing Hungary Mihály Varga November, 2008 Financing risks General government consolidated gross debt exceeded 60% of GDP, a Maastricht criterion, in 2005 80 73,7 70 (Hungary’s general government debt in relation to GDP 1996-2007) 64 62 61,1 60 54,3 55,7 58 59,4 2003. 2004. 65,6 65,8 2006. 2007. 61,7 52,1 50 40 30 20 10 0 1996. 1997. 1998. 1999. 2000. 2001. 2002. 2005. Source: Eurostat Hungary is highly vulnerable (Net financing capacity of the main sectors and external equilibrium as a percentage of GDP 2003 -2008) 6 6 4 4 2 2 0 0 2003 -2 2004 I. II. III. IV. 2005 I. II. III. IV. 2006 I. II. III. IV. 2007 I. II. III. IV. I. 2008 II. III. IV. I. II. -2 -4 -4 -6 -6 -8 -8 -10 -10 -12 Corporate sector External financing requirement General government Household sector -12 Source: Hungarian National Bank In Hungary, the oversized state chokes the economy, 2006 Budgetary balance in GDP % 4 Estonia 2 Government expenditure in GDP % Latvia 0 30 35 40 -2 -3 Slovenia 45 Czech Republic Slovákia 50 55 Maastricht criteria -4 -6 -8 -10 Hungary Source: Convergence programs 0 80 Denmark Netherlands Sweden Austria Finland United Kingdom Cyprus Germany Estonia Latvia Portugal Slovenia Ireland Czech Republic France Spain Luxembourg Lithuania Bulgaria Greece Belgium Slovakia Romania 70 Italy Poland Hungary 60 Malta Employment rate decreased by 1% in one year (Employment rate in the European Union, 2nd quarter of 2008,15-64) 78,4 EU-27 average: 66%: 55,2 56,5 50 40 30 20 10 Source: Eurostat 30118.12 (23 July 2007) The history of BUX index Since January 2007 Source: Budapest Stock Exchange 10751.23 (27.October 2008) Credibility risks Ratings of the long-term debt of Hungary Moody’s: 09/12/2002 12/22/2006 11/07/2008 A1 A2 A3- Standard and Poor’s: 12/19/2000 06/15/2006 10/15/2008 ABBB+ BBB+ with negative expectations Fitch Ratings: 11/30/2000 12/06/2005 11/10/2008 ABBB+ BBB Hungary pays a substantial interest rate premium as a consequence of losing its credibility (The central interest rates of the Visegrad countries) IV. Hitelességi kockázat Kamat mi és régió, állampapírhozamok Hungarian Polish Czech Slovak Source: Hungarian National Bank The proximity of the Euro-zone decreases interest premium (5-year interest rate differences in relation to the Euro in 5 years in the Visegrad countries, 2006-2008) basis point basis point Hungarian forint Polish zloty Czech crown Slovak crown Source: Hungarian National Bank In Hungary, the oversized state chokes the economy, 2006 Budgetary balance in GDP % 4 Estonia 2 Government expenditure in GDP % Latvia 0 30 35 40 -2 -3 Slovenia 45 Czech Republic Slovákia 50 55 Maastricht criteria -4 -6 -8 -10 Hungary Source: Convergence programs Lack of credibility played a decisive role in the financial rescue package (The stand-by cost of the package for Hungary is HUF 7.26 billion in 2009) EU IMF WB $1.3 billion $8.1 billion $15.7 billion Source: Ministry of Finance in Hungary Hungary is highly vulnerable (Net financing capacity of the main sectors and external equilibrium as a percentage of GDP 2003 -2008) 6 6 4 4 2 2 0 0 2003 -2 2004 I. II. III. IV. 2005 I. II. III. IV. 2006 I. II. III. IV. 2007 I. II. III. IV. I. 2008 II. III. IV. I. II. -2 -4 -4 -6 -6 -8 -8 -10 -10 -12 Corporate sector External financing requirement General government Household sector -12 Source: Hungarian National Bank Growth risks The growth rate of the Hungarian economy has sharply slowed down: 10 year low 6 5 5 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 0 0 -1 -1 -2 -2 95:Q1 95:Q3 96:Q1 96:Q3 97:Q1 97:Q3 98:Q1 98:Q3 99:Q1 99:Q3 00:Q1 00:Q3 01:Q1 01:Q3 02:Q1 02:Q3 03:Q1 03:Q3 04:Q1 04:Q3 05:Q1 05:Q3 06:Q1 06:Q3 07:Q1 07:Q3 08:Q1 6 Output gap Actual growth rate Potential growth rate Source: Hungarian National Bank Hungary had the lowest economic growth rate in the European Union in 2007 (The economic growth rate of Hungary and some of its competitors in 2007) Slovakia 10,4 Latvia 10,2 Lithuania 8,9 Slovenia 6,8 Poland 6,6 Estonia 6,3 Bulgaria 6,2 Czech Republic 6 Romania 6 Hungary 1,1 Source: Eurostat Labour market risks Due to tax increases, the situation of the labour market deteriorates Thousand persons (Changes in employment and unemployment,15-64, 2006 -2008) 60 60 40 40 20 20 0 0 -20 -20 -40 -40 employed unemployed -60 -60 -80 -80 2008 2007 2006 I. II. III. IV. I. II. III. IV. I. II. III. Source: Central Statistics Office 0 80 Denmark Netherlands Sweden Austria Finland United Kingdom Cyprus Germany Estonia Latvia Portugal Slovenia Ireland Czech Republic France Spain Luxembourg Lithuania Bulgaria Greece Belgium Slovakia Romania 70 Italy Poland Hungary 60 Malta Employment rate decreased by 1% in one year (Employment rate in the European Union, 2nd quarter of 2008,15-64) 78,4 EU-27 average: 66%: 55,2 56,5 50 40 30 20 10 Source: Eurostat Competitiveness risks Enterprises are the biggest losers of the 2006 autumn austerity measures (Tax increases September 2006 – January 2007) 30 2006 2007 25 25 20 20 20 16 15 15 15 10 5 0 Company tax rate* middle VAT rate EVA rate *4% extra tax, the basis of which is roughly the same as the company tax base Source: Tax laws Due to the 2006 autumn austerity measures the tax burden of employees increased by 3.5% The average tax burden in Hungary was the second highest in the European Union (2007) Out of HUF 100, the state gets HUF 54.5, the employee gets HUF 45.5 Total tax wedge Personal income tax Social security contributions for employee Social security contributions for employer Belgium 55,5 21,5 10,7 23,3 Hungary 54,5 16,1 12,6 25,7 Germany 52,2 18,4 17,4 16,4 France 49,2 9,9 9,6 29,7 Austria 48,5 12 14 22,5 Italy 45,9 14,4 7,2 24,3 Sweden 45,4 15,6 5,3 24,5 44 12,1 18,6 13,3 Finland 43,7 18,9 5,4 19,4 Czech Republic 42,9 7,7 9,3 25,9 Poland 42,8 5,4 20,4 17 Greece 42,3 7,9 12,5 21,9 Denmark 41,3 30,2 10,6 0,5 Spain 38,9 10,8 4,9 23,2 Slovakia 38,5 7,1 10,6 20,8 Luxembourg 37,5 13 12,6 11,9 Portugal 37,4 9,3 8,9 19,2 United Kingdom 34,1 16 8,4 9,7 Ireland 22,3 7,9 4,7 9,7 Country Netherlands Source: OECD database Suggestions of Fidesz Our suggestions • EUR 5 billion tax reduction • EUR 5 billion for SMEs from EU resources • Stopping luxury expenditures • Introduction of an expenditure ceiling • Setting up Budgetary Council Thank you for your attention