This analysis by Institute for Economic and Enterprise Research (IEER) focuses on Hungarian companies' perception of their financial situation and how government measures mitigating economic effects of COVID19 affected them. Data used for this analysis were taken from IEER's most recent Business Climate Survey: in April 2021 a total of 2790 Hungarian businesses were asked about their financials and acceptance of government support.

According to the results of the April 2021 survey, the business confidence in Hungary gradually improved following the low level measured in spring 2020. Since October 2020 the half-year Business Climate Index climbed from +14 points to +28 points. At the same time it is worthwhile to note that the current score value has been still the lowest since April 2014 (+27 points) and before April 2020. [1]

^[1] MBET_2021_May_210615.pdf (gvi.hu)

In the current analysis of HCIC’s Institute of Economic and Enterprise Research (IEER) the focus is on the financial situation of businesses, specifically with regard to revenue expectations, financial reserves, circular debt, necessity to use external financial sources, and terms of taking out loans. Data were recorded during the business cycle survey conducted between 1 October and 31 October 2020, with the participation of 3142 companies active in Hungary. The survey took place before the introduction of second wave coronavirus-related restrictions, therefore the abatement of the first wave greatly influenced the outcome – optimistic expectations characterised the resulting business climate index.

HCIC’s Institute for Economic and Enterprise Research (IEER) recently examined the effects the COVID-19 pandemic exerted on the economy. This time, the main focus is on capacity utilisation, financial reserves, employee numbers and changes in salaries and consumer prices. Domestic and foreign sales prices were taken from IEER’s Business Climate Surveys taken in the previous 31 waves (2005–2020), while the rest of the data used in this paper originate from the most recent survey conducted by IEER in April 2020 involving 2891 Hungarian companies. Records were taken between 1 April and 30 April 2020, during the period of COVID-19–related restrictions, so first impressions of the pandemic and the ensuing economic lockdown had a profound impact on our results. The aim of IEER’s Business Climate Survey was to map the CEO respondents’ short–term expectations based on their subjective judgement and information available to them at the time the survey was conducted.

In the article below by the Institute of Economic and Enterprise Research (IEER), we examine the obstacles hampering the business activity of enterprises in Hungary, the corporate reactions and crisis management tools countering the economic effects of the pandemic and the impact of measures introduced by the state. In the case of obstacles hampering the business activity of enterprises in Hungary, the data originates from last four waves of the half-annual IEER Business Climate Survey; concerning the other chapters data is from the latest wave of the same research: in April 2020, altogether 2891 enterprises were surveyed on the subject. The data collection took place between 1st of April and 30th of April, in the period when lockdown and curfew measures were imposed against the effects of the pandemic.

Based on the updated District Development Index (JFM_19) of HCCI IEER (MKIK GVI) we would like to give a better understanding of the development differences of the 174 Hungarian districts (járás). Unfortunately we cannot compare with the results of the previous studies since the Hungarian Central Statistical office (KSH) changed the methodology of some of the used measures and discontinued others.

Altogether the new index also indicates that the most developed districts almost exclusively are the capital and its agglomeration and of West and Central Transdanubia. It is quite interesting that according to the new calculation (JFM_19) Győr district has the highest development and is ahead of Budapest, which has worse business related and higher long term unemployment rates. Out of all the other (NUTS2) regions only the districts of bigger cities are in the top 25 (Kecskemét, Pécs, Debrecen, Nyíregyháza).

In this analysis of HCIC’s Institute for Economic and Enterprise Research (IEER) based on EC and IMF data, we present, how the novel coronavirus pandemic is expected to affect the economic situation of the EU member countries. As part of public health considerations, major containment and lockdown measures were introduced all across EU countries. This has put the EU economy to a halt – although the rate of the slowing down differs among member states – a -7,4% growth rate is forecasted for the region. Although this is followed by a return at least of circa 5% in 2021, the GDP will not reach its pre-pandemic forecasted levels. According to predictions, Hungary will have a milder slump in, with a -3,1% of real GDP change.

HCIC’s Institute for Economic and Enterprise Research (IEER) analysed Hungarian companies’ borrowing habits and experiences. The data analysed here originate from the quarterly business climate surveys conducted by IEER focusing on perceived business loan eligibility requirements (16 times since October 2011) and on the types of loans taken out (18 times since October 2011). In this matter a total of 7129 Hungarian companies were surveyed. Below we shall present the results of the most recent quarterly business climate survey (January 2020) put into context by a timeline of the past decade’s credit trends in the second part of our analysis.

The latest wave of the IEER Business Climate Survey is based on the responses of 2,891 enterprises. According to the results the IEER Business Climate Index decreased to -25 points in April 2020 from +40 points in October 2019. The value of the Uncertainty Index has increased by 14 points (April 2020: 60 points).

According to the currently available GDP data, it can be concluded that in the second half of 2019 the gross domestic product of Hungary has increased (4.7%).

Involving Hungarian companies, a survey was conducted by the Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (HCIC) to find out about the economic impacts of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. In this article, HCIC's Institute for Economic and Enterprise Research analyses the answers to the survey concerning the major problems of businesses. The survey was conducted between 19 and 31 March 2020. The online questionnaire was filled in by 5268 company representatives, and 4383 gave an answer to the open question: „What poses the most serious problem to the operation of your business now?”. The analysis focuses the opinions formulated by this latter group.

The ongoing career motivation survey conducted by HCIC IEER (Hungarian Chamber of Industry and Commerce Institute of Economic and Enterprise Research) has the double task of analysing pupils' and their parents' motivations behind their children's school and career choice, and reveal the factors (including personal and social factors as well as the influence of the family and the school) that affect the choice regarding school type (secondary grammar school, secondary vocational school, secondary technical school) and the specific school itself. This analysis focuses on the differences between career and school choice motivations of students studying at various levels of education, at various school types; the paper is based on the survey conducted in the period between 30 September and 29 November 2019 by HCIC IEER at secondary grammar schools of 4-5 year curricula, at secondary vocational schools (in non-vocational type of classes) and at secondary technical schools. Respondents at all school types were 9th grade full-time students. Our sample is representative, i. e. it reflects the 2019 national rates of 9th grade students with regard to region and training level.