The Power of Knowledge Lies in Its Use
Dr. Boyko Takov: Analytical and empirical results from ongoing projects constitute a solid information base
HOT: » Which party would you vote for (if you could) in the upcoming snap vote in Bulgaria on April 19?
Steve Hanke has repeatedly argued that Bulgaria shouldn't rush to adopt Europe's common currency given the euro- region's turmoil and the limited benefits of the switch. Photo by EPA/BGNES
Steve Hanke, the architect of Bulgaria's currency regime and one of the opponents of its Eurozone aspirations says the reason for the good state of the Bulgarian economy is the disciplining role of the currency board.
Hanke spoke Saturday in an interview for the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, agreeing with statements of the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Simeon Djankov, that at this stage Bulgaria will refrain from applying for Eurozone membership.
Djankov announced the information last week in an interview for CNN where he pointed out the countries in the Eurozone were not disciplined enough and must learn from Bulgaria.
"I agree with his position there is no reason to rush with the adoption of the EUR. You have a great-functioning currency board thus there is no reason to rush. This would be a waste of time and energy," Hanke said.
The world-renowned economist reminded how as early as 2002, he was the one recommending that a parliamentary majority passes important fiscal decisions and was the first one to propose the idea of a Fiscal Stability Pact.
The three main pillars of the Financial Stability Pact, now pushed by Djankov, to be solidified via constitutional amendments are introducing a limit to allowed budget deficit, restricting the ability of the state to redistribute public funds as a percentage of the GDP, and introducing a qualified majority vote of two-thirds of the votes in Parliament to change Bulgaria's direct taxes.
The Ministry of Finance has released a broad public dataset covering more than 7,000 public procurement contracts with a combined value exceeding 30 billion euros
Caretaker Finance Minister Georgi Klisurski said he expects fuel prices at gas stations to ease in the coming period, pointing to a sharp decline in international oil markets
Bulgaria’s new government borrowing for 2026 has surpassed the 1 billion euro mark following the latest successful auction of state securities, according to data cited from the Bulgarian National Bank
Bulgaria recorded only a modest and one-off increase in inflation following the adoption of the euro on January 1, with the effect estimated at between 0.3 and 0.4 percentage points
Data released by the Ministry of Finance, covering budget execution for February 2026 and preliminary estimates for March 2026, indicate a marked deterioration in Bulgaria’s fiscal position
In the 2026 edition of the Index of Economic Freedom, compiled by the Heritage Foundation, Bulgaria is placed 38th out of 176 countries, positioned between Costa Rica and Oman
Aniventure Comic Con Returns to Bulgaria with Star Guest Christopher Judge!
Global Fuel Shock: Oil Jumps Over 40% Since Iran War Began