OECD acknowledges Hungary reforms, makes further recommendations

Budapest (MTI) – The OECD acknowledged structural reforms Hungary’s government has undertaken over the past two years in a report on Friday, but said there is still room to reduce bureaucracy for businesses, improve competition in the service sector and reduce the tax wedge on wages.

In its latest “Going for Growth” report, OECD recognised steps Hungary has taken to ease administrative burdens for businesses but recommended the country improve the transparency, stability and formulation of regulatory policies. Hungary’s Competition Office should become more involved with the legislative process and a dedicated anti-corruption agency should be established, it added.

The OECD said there is “insufficient competition” in retail, professional services and network services and recommended removing sector exemptions, taking a tougher stand on mergers, lowering barriers to entry in the retail sector and facilitating entry of mobile virtual network operators on the telecommunications market. It also urged the introduction of market-based energy pricing.

The OECD noted that the tax wedge on wages and salaries had been lowered through a reduction in the personal income tax rate and would be cut further by expanding tax allowances for families with children. But it recommended cutting the wedge on lower salaries further through better targeting and the introduction of an employment tax credit that progressively declines with wage levels.

The OECD also recommended Hungary reduce work disincentives for the elderly and improve outcomes and equity, specifically for Roma people, in education. It suggested training in information and communications technology could be applied horizontally, across all subjects.

In a statement issued after the release of the report, the economy ministry said the OECD had failed to take into account a number of measures the government has taken. With regard to reducing the tax wedge on low earners’ wages further, the ministry said the government had taken a better targeted approach than the OECD’s recommendations with introduction of a job protection programme. The scheme has successfully put disadvantaged workers in jobs, raising Hungary’s employment rate faster than any other OECD country except for the Baltic States in 2010-2015, it added.

The OECD report also failed to acknowledge the government’s recent agreement with employers and unions on raising the minimum wage and cutting payroll taxes over the next several years, the ministry said.

Source: MTI/OECD