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Editorial Invest in Slovakia
Get information from a selection of articles from other media. Our summary of each of them will save you time. You'll find news from the worlds of finance, technology, and real estate.
The NBS adjustment to prevent too high mortgages at retirement age has already entered into force - The NBS amends two measures relating to loans to secure new or improve existing housing. From 1 January 2023, it will be more difficult for Slovak consumers to obtain a loan with a maturity extending beyond retirement age, i.e. beyond 65. At the same time, however, it will now be possible to take into account savings in energy costs in order to obtain a higher loan volume even with a longer repayment term. The aim is to increase the availability of financing for home renovation and to support the transformation to a green economy.
European Central Bank could move to raise interest rates sharply as economy slides into recession - Inflation in the euro area reached 9.1 % in August and is expected to reach double-digit levels in the coming months, given the continued pressure on energy prices. The ECB's reference rate is currently at zero. Consumer prices are therefore at risk of soaring even higher and a sudden 75 basis point rate hike is in the cards. The European Central Bank is expected to embark on a series of rate hikes, sacrificing growth in the region for the rising cost of living, which threatens even higher growth.
More than 5.2 billion digital wallet users worldwide by 2026 - Digital wallets are currently used by approximately 3.4 billion people. According to a study by Juniper Research, this number is set to surpass 5.2 billion by 2026, up to 60 % of the world's population. Rapid growth is expected, especially in Asia-Pacific countries where access to online connectivity is growing. The highly competitive environment is forcing vendors to add value in the form of new services. The research also identifies QR code as the most popular transaction type and recommends retailers to integrate loyalty features to encourage merchants to adopt this payment type.
The number of completed dwellings fell. The worst situation is in the Bratislava region - According to the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic, 4,685 flats were completed in Slovakia in the second quarter, which is 3.8 % less year-on-year. 70 % of them were family houses. The Bratislava region is the worst off, while the Nitra region recorded an increase of 40 %. Compared to the period before the pandemic, more dwellings are being completed in Slovakia, with the most significant growth recorded in the Prešov (+43 %) and Žilina (+32 %) regions. The number of new building permits also decreased year-on-year in the second quarter. They were issued by 4 % less than a year ago. At the same time, there were 25 % more than before the pandemic.
The minimum wage will increase in Slovakia. However, it is one of the lowest compared to European countries - Next year it is to rise from 646 to 700 euros. But despite the increase, we are falling further and further behind most EU countries. According to the president of the Confederation of Slovak Trade Unions, Slovakia's economic model has long been built on low wages and a cheap, low-skilled workforce. "Wage levels are also influenced to some extent by employees, through the ability to negotiate wages in an organised way in unions."
Web3 - a new digital space without borders - Web3 is intended to change the current system of controlling users' content and data on the Internet. Using blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, it is intended to create a freer digital space based on the principles of decentralisation and equality, transparency, but also tokenisation and automation. This is to democratise the online space - to put it back in the hands of users and creators.
Explanation of Ethereum's major update "Merge" - The Ethereum blockchain is to be merged with a separate blockchain, radically changing the way transactions are processed and new Ether tokens are created. The upgrade will reduce the amount of energy needed to create new coins and execute transactions. The new system, known as "proof-of-stake", will reduce the energy consumption of the Ethereum blockchain by 99.9 %, according to the developers. It is precisely because of the high consumption that most blockchains, including bitcoin's, have been the target of criticism from some investors and environmentalists.
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