In a series of articles, GKI Economic Research Co., presents the short- and long-term economic challenges facing the new Hungarian government. This week, they examine the situation of Hungarian pensioners, with a European perspective. The researchers recall that in Hungary, the nominal average pension has increased by 131% since 2012, but this initially favorable figure […]
The previous government has treated the situation of Hungarian families, especially families with multiple children, as a priority since 2010. This also brought about a paradigm shift, shifting to a policy that encourages childbearing and aims to achieve demographic goals, in which they emphasized the role of work alongside the family. This resulted in a […]
Commissioned by the GKI economic research institute in the spring of 2026, an online survey involving 211 participants was conducted on the extent and effects of social media use in Hungary. Although the research cannot be considered representative of the entire Hungarian population, the results still clearly identify the most important domestic social trends related […]
According to a survey conducted by the GKI Economic Research Co. – with the support of the EU –, public expectations improved significantly, to levels not seen in 5.5 years. The GKI Consumer Confidence Index increased by 16.1 points. Such a positive monthly shift has never been seen in the more than 30-year history of […]
From an economic perspective, demographic trends are vital, as they determine the size of the workforce, tax revenues, pension expenditures and the future trajectory of healthcare spending. Declining population – and its possible impact on employment – is one of the longer-term challenges faced by the new Hungarian government, headed by Péter Magyar, coming to […]
Expectations among companies operating in Hungary’s tourism sector exceeded the national economic average in April. According to the performance expectations index, they are in a more favorable position than any other sector — according to the latest survey conducted by the National Association of Tourism and Hospitality Employers (VIMOSZ) in collaboration with GKI Economic Research, […]
Analysis by GKI Economic Research suggests that while rating agencies monitored the Hungarian elections with intensified scrutiny, decisive judgment is improbable during the upcoming review cycle. Currently, Hungary’s sovereign debt is teetering near the lower boundary of the investment-grade category at all three major agencies — Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P — all of which maintain […]
Overall, the structure of Hungarian health care expenditures presents a dual picture: the state dominates in severe, long-term care services, while households bear a significant direct financial burden in pharmaceuticals, medical devices and outpatient care. That has been established by the Budapest-based GKI Economic Research Institute in its latest study on the subject. Based on […]
Based on data by the Central Statistical Office (KSH), the GKI economic research institute examined the structure of Hungarian health care expenditures, which provides an important picture of the extent to which the system relies on public resources, and of the role played by household financing and voluntary health insurance financing within the system. For […]
According to a survey by GKI Economic Research Co., conducted with EU support, consumer outlooks in January remained unchanged compared with December, while those of companies deteriorated slightly. The summary indicator of expectations, the GKI Business Climate Index, fell by almost three points. Firms’ willingness to hire remained unchanged, and their overall expectations for the […]
According to a survey by the economic research institute GKI, 27% of companies provide the option of working from home to at least some of their employees. Home office has thus become a stable but highly segmented form of employment in Hungary. The prevalence of working from home is outstanding in the service sector and […]
The spread of remote work received a significant boost in Hungary during the new coronavirus pandemic. Although its prevalence declined once the pandemic passed, over the past two to three years the use of home office has stabilised at a level much higher than before. In September 2025, according to the results of a representative […]
A survey conducted by GKI Economic Research Institute – with the support of the European Union – found that both consumers and businesses were more optimistic in September than in August. The GKI economic sentiment index, a summary measure of expectations, rose by just over two points, reaching an eleven-month high. Firms’ hiring intentions and […]
On May 1st, Hungary marked the 21st anniversary of its accession to the European Union. While EU membership offers a host of economic advantages — such as tariff-free exports within the bloc, increased foreign direct investment, and free movement of labour — perhaps the most tangible benefit lies in the direct financial support from Brussels. […]
According to a survey conducted by the GKI Economic Research Institute with the support of the EU, the outlook of consumers remained unchanged in February compared to January, but the expectations of the business sector became slightly more optimistic. The GKI business climate index thus moved up from its 19-month low in January. Companies' employment […]
