SOURCES
AND DEFINITIONS
Data is
presented in a country by country format, all to the same
statistical base, enabling direct comparison between the regions.
The
Country Pages
KEY
ECONOMIC INDICATORS – Regional Summary
Includes
comparative year-on-year convergence criteria (Maastricht
treaty): Real GDP (Gross Domestic Product) on a rolling year
on year percentage difference basis. Inflation figures are
based on CPI (Consumer Price Index) standards, unless otherwise
stated. Unemployment statistics are harmonised ILO (International
Labor Organisation) rates, unless otherwise stated. Budget
balance, Current account, Government debt, FDI ( Foreign Direct
Investment) and Industrial production measures and Import/Export
figures are all presented to recognised European accounting
standards.
All currency
is expressed in € billions/millions,at current price
unless otherwise stated.
"f" as
used throughout = forecast; "est" = estimate
INCENTIVES,
TAXES, LABOUR COSTS & REGULATIONS
Data from
the EU Strategic & Cohesion fund operated by DGXV, New Objectives
1-3 . Country market funding from the latest budget (2000-2006,
see contents) expanded in each chapter, indicating development
and enterprise zones to NUTS2* region level. ALSO-
European
foreign investment from international donor organisations
(IDO’s):- subsidised loans and equity from the EBRD (European
Bank of Reconstruction & Development), the EIB (European Investment
Bank), International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
AND the work of economic and standards bodies including the
United Nations (UNCTAD), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation
& Development (OECD) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) are
widely quoted in the text.
Inward
investment agencies and ministries of finance are the primary
sources updated quarterly, for the Report’s coverage of country-by
country local (NUTS2* region) grants and incentives, available
to most incoming business. Corporate tax concessions, cash
grants, support with subsidised loans for plant and property
and employment of local labour, duty free zones, etc.
The taxation
section specifically includes: current rates of corporation
tax, levels of social security payable, capital transfer tax,
registration costs, real tax costs, both personal & corporate
with tax rate charts and worked examples. Personal social
security, wealth tax, and all other taxes. Labour regulations,
cover the flexibility of working conditions, minimum wage,
and other primary employer obligations including dismissal
notice and other matters concerning employer/employee rights.
The Country
Profile provides topographic information, national holidays,
etc. underpinned by a map of major towns, sea and air(ports).
NUTS2
= The standard EU classification of an administrative region.
Equivalent for Candidate Countries is SCTU (Standard Classification
of Territorial Units).
INTEREST
RATES
Key inter-bank
and Discount rates with annual comparisons for commercial
lending, as defined.
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