Tag: Economy
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Alex Borg presents economic plan focused on productivity rather than labour force growth
Earlier today, Opposition Leader Alex Borg held a business breakfast with business representatives, where he presented an alternative economic plan to the government’s Budget. The plan is based on the main principle of increasing productivity while simultaneously reducing the economy’s dependence on an expanding labour force. Gross Value Added grew by 82% between 2015 and…
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If the economy is so good why is the birth-rate so low?
Minister Clyde Caruana has made some very big statements today which need to be addressed. The Finance Minister today said that Malta has the best economy in Europe because fuel and electricity subsidies are keeping inflation low, effectively thus cushioning the negative impacts of the external energy shock. He said that these subsidies are helping…
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Is Malta’s economy bullish hot?
Figures by the NSO and Eurostat show that Malta’s GDP and labour market were hot during the first quarter of this year, following on the previous economic success of the last quarter of 2025. Provisional government figures also show that the government’s public finances are also improving. Tourist numbers are hitting new records. The Maltese…
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The 2025 Maltese economy was hot: but structural problems are becoming larger and riskier
2025 was a relatively good year for the Maltese economy but government finances seem to have taken a step back. The government was successfully reducing the deficit by increasing tax revenues and next year aims to get closer at cutting off the deficit completely. However, this year, government finances broke the positive trend. At the…
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The US economy contracts for the first time since the start of Russia’s war on Ukraine
According to figures released yesterday by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, the US contracted for the first time since the first quarter of 2022. The GDP contracted by 0.3% owing to a surge in imports which are calculated negatively by the BEA. The surge in imports probably came due to stockpiling to premeditate US…
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Malta’s economy to keep outperforming European peers but structural risks remain: IMF
The International Monetary Fund has released its latest Country Report about Malta arguing that Malta’s economy is set to keep outperforming its European peers but structural risks remain. Malta’s economic growth is being mainly driven by export-lead services mainly online gaming and also tourism. It also stated that tourism and an increasing number of foreign…
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There’s nothing wrong with making lots of money if you do it without stealing or destroying the country
Perceptions about money, profit and capitalism, have been warped, abused and distorted to a great extent after decades of rampant rent-seeking, Jungle Rules and impunity. There’s nothing wrong in making lots of money and big profits, only that in Malta we have been accustomed with the idea that riches and big profits come from the…
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What national interest is Viktor Orban defending, actually? Hungary is the second poorest country in the EU
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk has recently said that the EU is suffering from “Viktor Orban fatigue”. EU leaders are tired of having to strong-arm Hungary into accepting its united positions on foreign policy, especially on Ukraine and Russia. Hungary has taken an altogether different position from the EU on Russia and Ukraine, and apart…
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Food prices: another problem “solved” by throwing money at it
Prime Minister Robert Abela has solved the food price inflation problem like he solves any other problem, that is by throwing money at it. A new scheme has been announced whereby food importers and distributors will be subsidised to reduce the prices of some of their imported products. Robert Abela has been issuing subsidies for…
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The IMF is telling the Maltese government to adopt fiscal austerity
I have no doubt that Robert Abela doesn’t understand the economic and financial reports he receives if he reads them at all. I don’t say this to meaningfully insult him, but I mean literally what I say in a truthful manner. I also think he believes his own bullshit and the propaganda he is given…
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Higher for longer with recessionary vibes
This is a depressing speech from EU Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde citing recessionary vibes in Europe, prolonged inflation, and slowing demand (both European demand and international demand for European products). Personally, I assumed Christine Lagarde was going to give a hawkish pause but the Central Bank increased the interest to 25 BPS (0.25%). Her…
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Aleander Balzan writes an O-level essay on economics for Robert Abela
The economic pain will only increase and the beatings will ensue until our country gets a normal government with normal adults who can properly manage the economy and lead the country. So far, we have a criminal organisation in government that pretends to govern. Aleander Balzan, Robert Abela’s propagandist wrote an O-level essay on economics…