Reforms to raise productivity would strengthen recovery - OECD

Analysis

Photo by rafapress / Shutterstock.com

Hungary's economy is emerging from the crisis caused by COVID-19, yet sustaining the country's robust pre-pandemic levels of growth will require reforms to foster productivity and job creation, according to the latest OECD Economic Survey of Hungary.

The survey says that with labor shortages being felt as the economy picks up, it is vital to invest in vocational training, digital skills, and apprenticeships to match skills with market requirements. Improving transport links and the availability of housing would make it easier for workers in low-employment areas to take up jobs elsewhere. Creating a more competitive and transparent business environment and accelerating firms' adoption of digital technologies would also bolster the recovery, according to OECD.

"Hungary's economy was doing well before the crisis, and with external demand picking up, prospects for a solid recovery are good. It is important to use this period, and the forthcoming inflow of EU funds, to raise productivity and competitiveness to ensure a strong and lasting recovery," said OECD director of economic country studies Alvaro Pereira, presenting the report alongside Hungary's Secretary of State for Financial Policy Gábor Gion.  

Gion said that in terms of economic consequences, the first wave of COVID-19 in Hungary was the worst. He then explained that while the second and third waves were worse from a healthcare perspective, the economy was more resilient than expected, pointing out that the high Hungarian vaccination rate was key to restarting the economy, and most of coronavirus-related restrictions earlier in July.

The COVID-19 crisis hit Hungary's export-oriented economy hard, ending a period of steady growth over 2016-19 that lifted incomes and brought down the unemployment rate to a 30-year low. Policy support to workers and firms, and the swift rollout of vaccines, has smoothed the path to recovery, and the survey projects growth of 4.6% in 2021 and 5% in 2022, following a drop of 5.1% in 2020. An annual injection of EU structural and Next Generation COVID recovery funds equivalent to around 3.5% of GDP in total from 2021 will support growth if invested well, the organization noted.

The report also noted that short-term risks remain, such as the impact of a global shortage of semiconductors on Hungarian car production, adding that targeted support to households and businesses should be continued as long as is needed. Once the recovery is self-sustained, the focus should return to strengthening public finances ahead of looming increases in health and pension spending from an aging population, the survey says, including by completing an ongoing increase in the retirement age to 65 by 2022 and linking further increases to gains in life expectancy.  

According to OECD, the aging and shrinking workforce makes it urgent to raise labor productivity, explaining that in addition to strengthening vocational and tertiary education, it is key to produce more of the highly skilled engineers and ICT graduates that businesses increasingly demand. In this context, the survey recommends making high-speed mobile Internet cheaper and helping firms to rapidly adopt digital technologies.

Intensifying efforts to fight corruption, including continuing to strengthen the institutional framework, and ensuring the independence and accountability of the judicial system would improve the investment climate and support business dynamism, the survey says.

OECD suggested that worker mobility could be enhanced by improving transport connections from rural areas into cities, modernizing housing regulations to expand the private rental market, and easing some of the rigid licensing and certification requirements on professional occupations. The organization also noted that Hungary could also consider increasing the duration of unemployment benefits from the current three months.

Hungary's economy would benefit from a more growth-friendly tax structure, the survey says. The publication suggests continuing to reduce labor taxes and phasing out distortionary taxes on turnover in sectors like energy, finance, and retail which hinder new entry and investment. This could be balanced by increasing consumption, property and environmental tax revenues while simplifying the value-added tax system by moving to a lower but broader-based VAT rate.

Banking Sector Forint Liquidity up in February Banking

Banking Sector Forint Liquidity up in February

Budapest Residents to Weigh in on Rákosrendező Development P... Issues

Budapest Residents to Weigh in on Rákosrendező Development P...

Czech Industrial Output Stalls in January Manufacturing

Czech Industrial Output Stalls in January

These Are the Most Sleep-friendly Hotels in Hungary Hotels

These Are the Most Sleep-friendly Hotels in Hungary

SUPPORT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL

Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For 27 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.
Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.