Hungary among the TOP20 most peaceful countries in the world!
In this year’s ranking of the Global Peace Index, eight European countries are listed in the TOP10 most peaceful states globally. Hungary’s security has improved five places in one year, by which it is listed among the TOP20. Here is the full ranking!
Security and peace are two important aspects that can determine the popularity of a given country. Before travelling or moving abroad, it is crucial to be aware of the social security of your destination. For this purpose, the Institute for Economics and Peace, an independent, non-profit research institute, compiles a Global Peace Index report every year to „measure peace in a complex world”. Within the framework of the index that ranks the world’s countries in terms of peace, social security, ongoing local and international conflicts, and the extent of militarisation are considered.
In this year’s ranking, Europe is the absolute winner, with eight countries mentioned among the TOP10 most peaceful states globally.
Among these, Iceland takes the palm, having been chosen as the most peaceful country for the 13th time this year.
New Zealand finished in second place just like last year, including two of the most livable cities in the world, Auckland and Wellington, and having been chosen as the best place to survive a possible end of the world.
In the TOP3, Denmark is the bronze medalist, having preceded Portugal in fourth place.
Among the TOP10, Hungary’s western neighbours have achieved remarkable places: Slovenia is in the 5th place, and Austria is ranked as the 6th most peaceful country globally, followed by Switzerland in the 7th place, Ireland in the 8th place and the Czech Republic in the 9th place. The TOP10 ends with Canada, followed by Singapore, Japan, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
Even though Hungary is not listed in the TOP 10, it has improved five places compared to last year, having been ranked as the 19th most peaceful country globally.
According to the Hungarian news portal Femina, the report points out that the exact effects of the pandemic are not yet apparent. Even though certain forms of violence have been pushed into the background for a short time, the economic uncertainty caused by the closures has caused severe stress to all the citizens around the world. Despite these economic difficulties, Budapest was ranked among the most livable cities in the EU at the beginning of 2021.
Compared to last year, there was no significant change in terms of security; the most peaceful and the most dangerous countries mostly remained the same. Afghanistan has become the world’s least secure country for the fourth time in a row, followed by Yemen, Syria, South Sudan and Iraq.
Read alsoBudapest is safer and more livable than London
These are the best Hungarian delicacies ranked at the British Great Taste Awards!
Within the framework of the British Great Taste Awards, three Hungarian delicacies received the maximum of three stars. Another twenty-five foods won two-star awards.
The 25-year-old Great Taste Awards is one of the largest gastronomic competitions in the world, with around 12,000 products nominated each year. As the Hungarian news portal Forbes reports, a jury of 500 experts, including chefs, distributors, restaurant owners, and food critics, award the highest three-star recognition to the best nominees, among which three Hungarian delicacies have been selected.
Namely, the Fajszi Paprika premium delicacy pepper seed oil, the Rubin Paprika smoked pepper meal, and the Szicsek Pálinka distillery premium Irsai Olivér grape brandy received the three-star rating this year.
Read also: Hungarian wine chosen as one of the best in the world
Several products of Fajszi Paprika have been awarded, including the premium delicacy fish soup pepper meal that received two stars and the premium delicacy smoked pepper meal that was awarded one star.
Among the two-star winners, we can find Szicsek’s premium Jonathan apple brandy and red pear brandy, while among the one-star winners, Rubin Paprika’s organic Szeged pepper meal, the brandy distillery’s green walnut liqueur, three-year-old apple brandy and pear brandy, and honey peach distillates are listed. The full list can be found here.
Great Taste Awards was not the only international gastronomic competition in which Hungarian food has received outstanding ranking. In mid-September,
the Balaton cheese of the Vászolyi Cheese Manufactory received the gold medal from the French jury as the only Hungarian brand
within the framework of the Mondial du Fromage that stands for the World Cheese Championships. As Hungarian news portal Forbes reports, the Vászolyi Cheese Manufactory won the start of the 2019 Nations Cheese Competition at the Mondial du Fromage and could return with the greatest professional recognition of being the only Hungarian brand to receive a gold medal from the French jury.
Read alsoTaste Hungary – we’ll show you what to eat and drink – VIDEO!
Hungary takes 34th place on Global Innovation Index
Hungary has risen a single place since last year in the Global Innovation Index which measures the performance of 132 economies in terms of their innovation, the ministry of innovation and technology (ITM) said on Tuesday.
Notwithstanding the coronavirus pandemic, Hungary was among ten European countries that improved on the World Intellectual Property Organisation’s (WIPO) rankings, based on around 80 indicators, József Bódis, the ministry’s state secretary for higher education, innovation and vocational training, said in a statement.
Switzerland, Sweden, the US, UK and South Korea topped the list, while Hungary is in 34th place overall and 22nd among 39 European countries, ahead of Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, Russia and Slovakia.
In terms of knowledge creation and technological results, Hungary was in 20th place overall.
Bódis said Hungarian universities were also advancing in various higher education rankings and, more broadly, the WIPO result indicated that Hungarian innovation policy was on the right track.
The government, he said, was steadily increasing RDI spending, which exceeds 700 billion forints (EUR 2bn), over twice as much as in 2010.
This year, government support totals 182 billion forints for RDI tenders, he said.
Read the full reports HERE.
Read alsoMinister: Jobs, family, innovation are Hungary’s solutions to social challenges
Financial Times: Corvinus Budapest in top 100 management schools of the world!
Monitoring hundreds of top management universities in the world, Financial Times found Budapest’s Corvinus university the 91st best globally. The British daily focusing on current business and economic affairs compares the different business schools every year and establishes its international ranking based on the results. Interestingly, Corvinus’s management program has been in the top 100 for 12 years consecutively.
According to novekedes.hu, the ranking shows that Corvinus University is an internationally competitive institution of the Hungarian higher education system. Rector Előd Takáts said that their ambitious aim is to train the business and social elite of Hungary and Central-Europe by 2030.
There are only five East-Central European programs that rank the world top 100. Among them, Corvinus’s Management and Leadership MSC is the only Hungarian one – he added. When the Financial Times ranked the programs based on their value-price rate, Corvinus became the 22nd. The British daily highlighted that all students could find a job only three months after their graduation.
Based on the university’s Graduate Tracking System, those who finish their studies at Management and Leadership earn an average of 628,000 HUF (1,794 Euros) per month with three years of experience. That sum is 11 pc higher than the average of those who do the same program at another university.
Furthermore, students of Corvinus University can increase the value of their diploma with a CEMS (The Global Alliance in Management Education) program. That lasts two semesters, including one semester spent abroad and an internship, as well. The program is only available at Corvinus University.
Moreover, the university renewed its Management and Leadership program. They would like to train those who would fill middle and senior management positions later.
Felvi.hu says that 496 students started the program in 2021 – portfolio.hu reported.
WOW! Budapest is one of the best places for a “workation”
The coronavirus pandemic also has some advantages. These include the advent of the home office. Thanks to the spread of telework, a new travel trend has emerged called “workation”. “Workation” is made up of the words work and vacation, so during “workation”, one works and has fun at the same time. Based on the list of foreign websites, Budapest is one of the best places for “workation”.
One defence against the coronavirus epidemic was to reduce social connections. This created a way for many to get to know the home office system in the long run. Working from home was comfortable and practical for most people, and the companies also recognised the inherent possibilities, writes napi.hu. Not only companies but also employees are trying to take advantage of the new situation.
“The ‘workation’ is the perfect way to spend more time in a destination we want to explore while not consuming our annual vacation,” Sarah Siddle, PR and marketing manager for German travel site Holidu, told CNBC.
The perfect workation city is not too expensive, there are many attractions and good internet connection.
Holidu has compiled a list of 150 different cities around the world. It examined the extent to which cities meet specific requirements for telework. Important aspects are the speed of wireless internet access, the number of community jobs, the average price of a cup of coffee, the average cost of two glasses of beer, the price of a taxi, the number of tourist attractions, the price of a meal and the rent of a single room. They also looked at how many photos we could find related to that city by searching the hashtag on Instagram.
It follows from the aspects of the list that the cost of a venue matters a lot. For example, the first U.S. city to rank is Los Angeles at the 30th. While, for example, there are many program options in New York, they are too expensive to get the city to the top of the list.
Budapest is the fifth-best place for workation.
It is pointed out that in Budapest, coffee and beer are both very cheap, while the number of hours of sunshine is less than 2000. The first place on the list is Bangkok, Thailand, the second is New Delhi in India, and the third is Lisbon, Portugal. Bangkok has the best internet speed, and 450,000 free wifi hotspots are available. The cost of living is very low, especially the meal. There are many multinational companies, and the city also abounds in attractions.
British magazine: Budapest is the 29th best city in the world, preceding even Abu Dhabi!
The Hungarian capital has achieved a new, remarkable tip of a hat in an international ranking, according to which Budapest is the 29th best city in the world.
The British Time Out magazine asked 27,000 city-dwellers to rank the best cities in the world. The Time Out Survey started in March this year, and the final list – which was also reviewed by the magazine’s writers and other professionals – was published on Wednesday.
Accordingly, Budapest became the 29th best city in the world in the ranking, following Paris (28th) and preceding Abu Dhabi in the 30th place.
The paragraph about the Hungarian capital highlights the amazing architecture of the capital, thanks to which 72% of the locals describe Budapest as ‘beautiful’ in the Time Out Survey. The article also notes that the popular nightclubs in Budapest’s downtown were closed due to the pandemic, and the city’s social life shifted away from the city centre to the green areas. The picturesque Buda hills attracted even more hikers than before, and more people went to the river for a drink or a picnic in the parks. By the ease of epidemiological restrictions, people could socialise first in the exterior areas on bar, restaurant, and café terraces. The article also highlights that
recently, there have been several plans on how these outdoor hangouts could be developed, such as pedestrianising the banks of the Danube by the Parliament.
As Hungarian news portal Telex reports, there is always a section in the reviews that describes what is in each city that we wish could be found elsewhere. In the case of Budapest, these are the hills where you can go hiking, as well as the green areas along the Danube with parks, bars, and in some places even beaches.
The top five on the Time Out list are San Francisco, Amsterdam, Manchester, Copenhagen, and New York. The full list can be viewed HERE.
Read also: Budapest is the third most popular city in the world for the Z generation!
Here are the 50 best burgers in Europe, 2 of them from Budapest
Global travel site Big 7 Travel has officially released its annual list of ‘The 50 Best Burgers In Europe.
Craving a juicy, delicious burger? You certainly will be after reading this, that’s for sure. From tiny burger bars to hugely popular burger restaurants with a cult following, Big7Travel pick of the best burgers in Europe for 2021 make for plenty of must-eats.
They checking out suggestions from our audience on their favourite burgers year-round, as well as contributions from the Big 7 Travel editorial team. 2020’s best burgers in Europe saw the No.1 spot go to a burger bar in Prague, but just like the ever-changing hospitality industry itself,
this year’s list features some new and creative burgers.
So, read on to see which droolworthy burger takes numero uno in 2021…
The Best Burgers in Europe 2021
1st. Gasoline Grill – Copenhagen, Denmark
And the No.1 spot on this year’s best burgers in Europe? These guys are winning awards left, right and centre for their burgers around the world and it’s not hard to see why. Epic levels of tastiness. The burgers are handground in-house daily, with crinkle fries golden and crispy and organic ingredients. Don’t let the line outside put you off – it moves quick, and these burgers are worth the wait.
2nd. Goiko Grill – Valencia, Spain
The burgers here are consistently good, and they put that down to sourcing the very best ingredients. You’ll never get a bad burger in here.
You’ll find them in multiple locations as they continue to grow with their legions of super fans. The burgers are so pretty you nearly don’t want to spoil them by eating them. Nearly!
3rd. Burger And Beyond – London, England
This mouthwatering restaurant and food truck serves burgers that are so good you’d hear people whispering about them around London in hushed tones. But hey, we think burgers this good need to be shouted about. Simple, tasty and perfect – what more could you ask for from one of the best burgers in Europe. Best burger in London.
4th. 7Bone Burger Co. – Portsmouth, England
5th. VLND Burger – Tallinn, Estonia
6th. Flippin’ Burgers – Stockholm, Sweden
7th. Bamba Marha Burger Bar – Budapest, Hungary
Bamba Marha Burger Bar goes big on the toppings and there’s lots of variety to be had on the menu. The portions are super generous and with fries you’ll do well to finish the whole meal. Can’t choose which burger to order? We feel your pain, but the signature Bamba Marha burger with parmesan chips, grill shiitake mushroom, umami ketchup, and grilled tomato is foolproof.
8th. The Beef Chief – Amsterdam, Netherlands
9th. Ground Burger – Lisbon, Portugal
10th. Burgermeister – Berlin, Germany
…
43rd. Tuning Burger – Budapest, Hungary
A group of guys who are super passionate burgers. They do offer a superb steak burger but the way to go here is with the classic beef with cheese and bacon. It comes served on wooden boards and a serious meal if you can finish it all. Plus, with a huge band of loyal customers they never shirk on quality.
For the full list of the 50 Best Burgers in Europe, please see here.
Read alsoDining Guide Gala – the 12 best Hungarian restaurants
Here are the TOP10 richest and most impoverished settlements in Hungary!
Despite the increase in average earnings, the total net income per capita in the poorest settlements is approximately 2.5 times lower than in the wealthiest Hungarian cities. By way of comparison, here are the rankings of the richest and poorest settlements in Hungary!
According to the freshest data of the Central Statistical Office, the median salary in Hungary is currently EUR 930, which is 9.3% higher than in the same period last year. Still, there are several concerns about the significant income polarisation of social groups that can be best proven by the fact that the proportion of the middle class has been declining for years. In contrast, the proportion of the upper, upper-middle and lower-income classes shows a continuous increase in Hungary.
As the Hungarian news portal Pénzcentrum reports, this phenomenon can also be traced geographically. Accordingly, Hungary’s seven regions based on the total net income per capita can be ranked as follows:
- Central Hungary (EUR 4,422/year/person)
- Central Transdanubia (EUR 4,121/year/person)
- Western Transdanubia (EUR 3,719/year/person)
- Northern Hungary (EUR 3,276/year/person)
- Southern Great Plain (EUR 3,240/year/person)
- Northern Great Plain (EUR 3,135/year/person)
- Southern Transdanubia (EUR 3,132/year/person)
The ranking clearly shows that the first three regions – Central Hungary, Central Transdanubia and Western Transdanubia – significantly exceeds the regions of the Great Plain and Southern Transdanubia in terms of total net income per capita.
Read also: Salary report reveals a shocking gap between Budapest and Hungary’s eastern regions
However, the difference is even more remarkable if we compare income levels by state administration districts instead of the regional breakdown. Based on recent statistics,
in the wealthiest settlements, the total net income per capita is approximately 2.5 times higher than in the poorest Hungarian cities,
as well a much lower unemployment rate can be observed in the more prosperous settlements. This can be explained by the fact that the good standard of living in a settlement is closely connected to the proportion of the working population living there that leads to higher relative well-being. Numerically, this means an unemployment rate below 3% in wealthier districts, or not even reaching 1% like in the case of Csorna. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in the poorest Hungarian settlements is above 10% or can even exceed 15% – reported by Pénzcentrum.
Based on the total net income per capita, these are the TOP10 most prosperous settlements in Hungary:
Settlement Total net income per capita
- Budakeszi (Central Hungary) EUR 4,989/year/person
- Dunakeszi (Central Hungary) EUR 4,954/year/person
- Győr (Western Transdanubia) EUR 4,696/year/person
- Székesfehérvár (Central Transdanubia) EUR 4,610/year/person
- Paks (Southern Transdanubia) EUR 4,574/year/person
- Érd (Central Hungary) EUR 4,566/year/person
- Komárom (Central Transdanubia) EUR 4,555/year/person
- Mór (Central Transdanubia) EUR 4,490/year/person
- Gödöllő (Central Hungary) EUR 4,464/year/person
- Pilisvörösvár (Central Hungary) EUR 4,461/year/person
By way of comparison, see the ranking of the poorest Hungarian settlements below:
- Csenger (Northern Great Plain) EUR 2,199/year/person
- Kunhegyes (Northern Great Plain) EUR 2,221/year/person
- Cigánd (Northern Hungary) EUR 2,229/year/person
- Vásárosnamény (Northern Great Plain) EUR 2,233/year/person
- Fehárgyarmat (Northern Great Plain) EUR 2,234/year/person
- Gönc (Northern Hungary) EUR 2,321/year/person
- Ózd (Northern Hungary) EUR 2,400/year/person
- Bácsalmás (Southern Great Plain) EUR 2,402/year/person
- Kistelek (Southern Great Plain) EUR 2,420/year/person
- Encs (Northern Hungary) EUR 2,449/year/person
Read alsoAverage Hungarian salary at EUR 833?
The Hungarian Parliament named 6th most beautiful Building in the World
Global travel site Big 7 Travel has officially released a list of the ’50 Most Beautiful Buildings In The World’.
We’ve taken on the herculean task of compiling the best of the best using aggregated scores from social media (with over 127,000 votes cast on Ranker.com) and contributions from the Big 7 Travel editorial team. From the supermodel good looks of Italy’s duomos to the striking skyscrapers in the Middle East, here’s this year’s list of the 50 most beautiful buildings in the world.
THE TOP 10 MOST BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS IN THE WORLD 2021:
10. The Parthenon, Athens (Greece)
The Parthenon has stood atop the Acropolis of Athens for nearly 2,500 years. Built to give thanks to Athena, the city’s patron goddess, it’s a cultural icon that has inspired design and architecture throughout the ages. From its gently curving columns to its sublime sculptures, it’s a building that can’t fail to impress.
9. Dome of Rock, Jerusalem
This 7th-century building is another example of spectacular Islamic architecture. The octagonal structure and rotunda are both Byzantine in design, while the Persian tiles were added in 1561. The shrine is located on the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, built on the site of the Second Jewish Temple, which had been destroyed during the Roman Siege of Jerusalem in 70 CE. That makes it the oldest existing Islamic monument in the world.
8. St Paul’s Cathedral, London (United Kingdom)
One of London’s blockbuster sights, St. Paul’s Cathedral has been a Christian place of worship for over 1,400 years – and a pagan temple even before that. Sir Christopher Wren designed the current building after the original church burnt down in the Great Fire of London. Using the 4000 year old architectural rule called ‘golden ratio’, St. Paul’s Cathedral frequently comes up top of the list.
7. St Basil’s Cathedral, Moscow (Russia)
Standing proudly at the southern end of the Red Square, St Basil’s Cathedral is a kaleidoscope of colours and patterns. Its iconic onion-shaped domes loom majestically over the rest of the city, easily making it one of the city’s best-loved landmarks. Ivan the terrible commissioned the church in the 16th century, to commemorate the capture of the Tatar stronghold of Kazan.
6. Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest (Hungary)
The seat of the National Assembly of Hungary is also one of Europe’s oldest legislative buildings. It sits in the heart of Lajos Kossuth Square, on the bank of the Danube. To commemorate the uniting of three cities – Buda, Obuda and Pest – as Budapest in 1876, the authorities held an international competition to design a beautiful building. Imre Steindl won, completing the site in 1904. The building features around half a million precious stones and 40 kilograms of gold.
5. Osaka Castle, Kyobashi (Japan)
It’s one of Japan’s most famous landmarks, comprising 61,000 square metres and 13 structures that have each been designated as important cultural assets. The central building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside. Its history is fascinating too, having played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
4. La Sagrada, Barcelona (Spain)
Now Barcelona’s most iconic landmark, Antoni Gaudí dreamed up the Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família (Expiatory Temple of the Holy Family) more than 135 years ago. It was originally intended as a simple catholic church, but Pope Benedict XVI declared it a basilica in 2010.
3. The Duomo, Florence (Italy)
Florence’s breathtaking Duomo is the city’s most iconic landmark. Building began as early as 1296, but the church wasn’t consecrated until 1439. Filippo Brunelleschi’s red-tiled cupola, which sits prettily against the building’s pink, white and green marble facade, is the standout feature, but inside it’s just as good. Clamber up the cupola’s 463 steps to get a good look at Giorgio Vasari’s frescoes of the Last Judgement.
2. Palace of Versailles, Paris (France)
When the Palace of Versailles was originally built in the 1630s, Versailles was just a country village. Today, it’s a wealthy Parisian suburb, just 20 kilometres from the capital. Louis XIII used it as a hunting pavilion, then his son Louis XIV installed the Court and government here in 1682. The palace now spreads over 63,154 m2, comprising 2,300 rooms. The gardens are extraordinary but it’s worth poking your nose inside, if only to walk through the iconic Hall of Mirrors.
1. Taj Mahal, Agra (India)
The ivory-white mausoleum is instantly recognisable to people across the globe and it’s one of the world’s most iconic monuments. It was built by the Mughal Emporer Shah Jahān to immortalize his wife Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth. The harmonious and symmetrical layout of the building, combined with its exquisite decorative elements, have distinguished it as one of the finest examples of Mughal architecture. There are twin mosque buildings, immaculate gardens and a museum to explore too.
- For the full list of the World’s most beautiful buildings, please see here.
Photo by Geio Tischler on Unsplash
Budapest listed among the world’s best cities to study in!
The Hungarian capital made it to the list of the world’s best cities to study in while at university.
Budapest is one of the best destinations you could choose for your holidays. It is cheap (especially when it comes to beers), crowded but not to a suffocating extent, has a vibrant nightlife all week long, and, most importantly, it is absolutely stunning.
Cheapest Budapest district for renting an apartment
Quacquarelli Symonds, a British company specialising in the analysis of higher education institutions around the world, just gave us another reason as to why you should come and check out the Hungarian capital.
Budapest was chosen as one of the Best Student Cities 2022 in the world.
The city occupies the honourable 58th position out of 200 cities ranked based on several factors.
From the region, only Vienna and Prague acquired a better ranking.
The list made public on Wednesday is again led by London, Munich, Seoul, and Tokyo. From the Eastern European region, Vienna had the best scores, where the universities attract more and more Hungarian students year by year.
There are 35 higher education institutions operating in Budapest, among which three are included in the Top Universities in the World 2022 list
(ELTE, BME, and Corvinus). Moreover, many universities offer the possibility of studying in a foreign language, usually in English, French, or German.
Even though the 58th position is an amazing achievement both for the city and the country, it is a bit bitter. During the past years, the Hungarian capital used to rank somewhere between the 43rd and 56th positions.
This drop can be the outcome of the sudden increase in prices over the past year. Nevertheless,
Budapest is still the 8th cheapest student city in the world,
which was one of the deciding factors when drawing up the list, highlights eduline.hu.
The average yearly tuition fee at a Budapest university is around 3,600 dollars (3,000 euros). According to QS’s calculations, an average student can live on 600 dollars a month, without including rent. The creators of the list did thorough research, as Sziget Festival, ruin bars, museums, and thermal baths were all used as appealing factors.
Why is Budapest the only Hungarian city ranked by the company when the country has several famous universities in many cities educating future generations? First of all, QS only considers cities where the population exceeds 250 thousand. Second, the city needs to have at least two universities that made it to QS’s latest world ranking.
Debrecen was very close with its 200 thousand inhabitants, however, no city other than the capital could comply with the second criterion. Almost all big cities went through an integration process in the early 2000s, which resulted in the setting up of one big institution in most of these cities.
Many factors were taken into consideration when drawing up the final list: the world ranking of institutions operating in the given city, the “mix of students” (the proportion of foreign students, for instance), employment activity, affordability, or even general circumstances, such as public security or the level of air pollution. The company even considered the corruption index of Transparency International.
Read alsoCitadella of Budapest to become the gem of the city – VIDEO
What do you think, how has Hungary performed since joining the EU?
Since joining the EU in 2004, Hungary’s convergence has improved by 11.5 percentage points compared to the EU27 average, by which it is ranked only 10th out of 13 Central and Eastern European Member States. Based on this, currently, Hungary is the 8th most developed country in the region. The latest data of Eurostat also revealed which EU members have developed the most in the last 16 years.
Due to the economic decline caused by the coronavirus pandemic last year, a significant drop could be expected in the convergence processes. As we previously reported, the value of the Hungarian forint reached a historic all-time low. Since the global pandemic harmed the economies of all the countries concerned, the weakening of the Hungarian currency did not cause any severe problems.
Based on the freshly published data of Eurostat, Hungary’s convergence has not stopped compared to the EU 27 average, even though it visibly slowed down in the recent period.
Since 2004, Hungary has improved by 11.5 percentage points (from 63% to 74%) compared to the EU27 average, by which it is ranked only 10th on the achieved convergence list out of the 13 Central and Eastern European Member States (EU13).
Accordingly, Hungary was the fifth in 2004 and is currently the 8th most developed member state in the region.
As the Hungarian news portal Portfolio reports, the result is not so encouraging, as only 3 Member States performed worse than Hungary in terms of convergence: Cyprus, Slovenia and Croatia, which only joined the EU in 2013. According to the overall ranking, Lithuania has developed the fastest, the Baltic country has advanced 37 percentage points of GDP per capita in 15 years and is currently the 4th most developed country in the EU13 with 87%. Meanwhile, it was only 50% in 2004.
Besides Lithuania, Hungary has also been overhead by Estonia and Poland, as well as Latvia and Romania have caught up.
The overall ranking that indicates how many percentage points the member states have approached the EU average is the following:
- Lithuania (37% ↑)
- Romania (37% ↑)
- Estonia (30% ↑)
- Poland (25% ↑)
- Latvia (24% ↑)
- Bulgaria (19% ↑)
- Malta (12,5% ↑)
- Czech Republic (12% ↑)
- Slovakia (12% ↑)
- Hungary (11,5% ↑)
- Croatia (8% ↑)
- Slovenia (1% ↑)
- Cyprus (-13% ↓)
The convergence index shows a decline in Hungary’s northern neighbour, Slovakia, which, in 2015, was still 78% of the EU27 average, and five years later was only 72% relatively developed. In Slovakia, productivity growth began to stagnate in the recovery period following the 2008 crisis. In addition, Slovakia does not have the necessary quantity and quality of know-how to maintain the high growth rate achieved in the automotive FDI inflow at the time. Although economic growth has not stopped, it has been left behind by neighbouring countries.
The future convergence process is still questionable in Hungary. The Treasury expects growth this year to exceed 5-6%, although this is not yet supported by current industrial and construction processes. Another question is how the skyrocketing increase of prices will affect the economy, through which a significant impairment risk threatens the purchasing power of Hungarian forint.
Read alsoCrazy price increase in the Hungarian & global food market!
These are the 50 best pizzas in Europe, two of them from Budapest
According to bigseventravel.com, the list of the best pizzas in Europe is packed with some of tastiest pies you will ever set your eyes on. And, while you’d expect to find lots of great pizza in Italy, you’ll find equally tasty pies scattered all over the rest of the continent, too. With European restaurants reopening in time for summer, we’re celebrating the places that take pizza to new levels alongside those that honour classic traditions and techniques.
Plan to make your way south, north, and way out east as you explore each and every pizza on this list.
Drooling yet? It’s about to get even more intense. For our annual ranking, we’ve updated this list to add editor’s picks and listened to our audience to craft the brand new list of the Best Pizzas in Europe in 2021.
Best Pizzas In Europe 2021
1st. L’Antica Pizzeria da Michele – Naples, Italy
Of course, when it comes to the best pizzas in Europe and all over the world, the No. 1 spot traces all the way back to the source: Naples. Review after reviews sees people raving about how they’ve had the best pizza of their lifesat Pizzeria Da Michele. You might have to wait a bit to get a taste, but one you bite into this cheesy goodness, you’ll realise it was well worth the hype.
2nd. Bæst – Copenhagen, Demark
Browse any international list of the best pizzas in Europe and you’ll find Bæst at the near top of every list. What’s their secret? Well, to start with, they source their ingredients straight from their own farm. It’s easy to provide quality control when you’re using your own organic meats and creating your own mozarella in-house. This place has revolutionised pizza in Denmark, and they’re not stopping anytime soon.
3rd. Old Scuola – Rotterdam, Netherlands
Tucked away in an old industrial building in the centre of Rotterdam, you’ll find Old Scuola. This traditional pizza joint is the place to be for anyone looking for a delicious pie. They use their own house recipes made from local ingredients for mozzarella, burrata and so much more, which means your dish is always fresh. Treat yourself to a glass of wine, too. They serve some of the best in the city here.
4th. Animaletto Pizza Bar – Bucharest, Romania
5th. Rudy’s Pizza – Manchester, England
6th. 50 Kalò di Ciro Salvo – London, England
7th. Gustapizza – Florence, Italy
8th. Digó Nápolyi Pizza – Budapest, Hungary
Head to Budapest’s Digó Nápolyi Pizza for some of the best slices in the city, if not the entirety of Europe.
Napoleon is the speciality here as they showcase rich, full flavours that always keep guests coming back for more.
We recommend you try their margarita with robust tomato sauce and fresh basil. They serve it up with a nice thin crust that’s not too chewy and not too crispy. Oh, and the service? Top-notch every time you visit.
46th. Kemencés – Budapest, Hungary
At Kemencés, it’s clear that they take their time with their pies. Upon the first bite, you’ll note how perfectly crispy the crust is.
Then, you’ll get a taste of the incredible sauce paired with the piping hot, ooey-gooey cheese.
It’ll rock your tastebuds each and every time you visit. But, if you really want something especially tasty, try their Picante Pizza. It is, as you can guess, nice and spicy.
Read alsoThe best cafés of Budapest – PHOTOS
How is it possible that almost 1 million people do not work in Hungary?
In Hungary, almost a tenth of the population is economically inactive, which means that 900,000 Hungarians are outside of the labour market. This proportion is quite significant compared to the EU average, but what is the reason behind it, and which gender is most affected?
According to the latest Eurostat report, the percentage of the total working-age population (aged 15-64) shows a declining trend in the labour market of the European Union. During the last decade, the proportion of economically active people has declined by almost 6% in the EU; however, a slight increase could be observed last year when it increased by 0.5 percentage points, resulting in 27.1% in 2020.
As the Hungarian news portal Pénzcentrum reports,
the statistics consider all people of working age who are neither employed nor unemployed to be outside the labour market.
This includes all the people who are not available in the world of work for various reasons, including studying, caring for a family member, a retired status, or being unable to work due to an illness or disability.
Based on last year’s data, Eurostat has made a ranking of the countries considering the proportion of economically inactive people, according to which Italy had the largest number of people outside the world of work. Numerically, this means 35.9% of the population. The Mediterranean country was followed by Croatia in the second and Greece in the third place where the proportion of economically inactive people is 32.9% and 32.6% respectively. The non-labour market share was also high in Belgium and Romania, exceeding 30%.
Can employers ask to see COVID-19 Immunity Certificates in Hungary?
Finance minister: Hungary ranks 42nd in IMD competitiveness report
Hungary is in the midfield of the ranking, meaning that 27.2% of the working-age group did not work in 2020.
This is approximately 900,000 people of the total population of 15-64-year-olds.
The good news is that the declining trend of economic inactivity in the EU can also be observed in Hungary, where this proportion has decreased by almost 11% in the last decade. Despite the promising tendency, Hungary is still above the EU average in terms of economic inactivity.
In terms of gender ratio, the proportion of women outside the labour market is more significant than that of men,
a trend which can be observed since the beginning of the Eurostat time series. However, the gender gap has narrowed during the last two decades. Accordingly, the indicator has reached its lowest point last year. Still, the difference is remarkable in Hungary.
In 2020, 19.7% of men of working age were economically inactive, while 34.7% of women were outside the labour market.
So, the difference is a total of 15 percentage points, which is much higher than the EU average.
According to the Eurostat ranking, the best situation can be observed in Sweden, where only 17.5% of the population are economically inactive. The Netherlands can also be proud of its positive results, as only 19.1% of the population is outside of the labour market.
Read alsoThousands of healthcare workers plan to resign in Hungary – Fresh survey results
The 50 best rooftop bars in Europe – two of them from Budapest
According to bigseventravel.com, there’s only one thing to do when the heat and humidity hits – find the nearest rooftop bar and cool down with a cocktail or two. It might not have the same skyscrapers as New York or Tokyo, but there’s some amazing rooftop bars in Europe, with plenty of grand buildings for a cool new cocktail lounge to perch on.
Having a drink in one of the region’s best sky-high watering holes is a smart way to escape the heat and the crowds. Plus, you get a whole new viewpoint… and a tasty cocktail. With social distancing the way to go this summer, customers are seeking out airy, outside spaces.
With that in mind, we’ve rounded up the essential rooftop bars in Europe– from London to Luxembourg and pretty much everywhere in between.
Two Rooftop Bar in Budapest named as the one of the best in Europe.
1st. The Culpeper – London, England
This hugely popular bar has slick views of the city, with an herbalist and greenhouse vibe. The exact theme of the rooftop changes each summer; this year’s it’s kept things simple with a focus on English wine.
Want a bite to eat? What’s being grown next to you will most likely end up on your plate. There’s also regular events at the rooftop, such as astronomy on the roof or sunset yoga classes.
2nd. Patchwork at Sa Punta – Ibiza, Spain
This super-chic bar proves that you don’t always need extreme heights to be considered one of the best rooftop bars in Europe. Patchwork is a Lebanese bar and restaurant in a colourful setting beside the sea. Vibrant handmade decor, sunset views and delicious cocktails add up to make this spot special.
3rd. Terrazza Borromini – Rome, Italy
This slick hotel bar has a panoramic terrace with views of Piazza Navona, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Pantheon that makes it a foolproof place for an Aperitivo for sunset. Reservations are pretty much essential, so plan ahead.
24th. Liebling – Hidden Rooftop Bar – Budapest, Hungary
Liebling is known as Budapest’s ‘hidden’ rooftop bar, which might mean there’s not much of a view, but the funky courtyard makes up for it.
There’s live music every night, a vast selection of quality local wines, classic cocktails, spirits and the best of the Hungarian and Italian cuisine – what more could you want?
37th. Aria Hotel Budapest – Budapest, Hungary
A luxury hotel in the city, head straight to the rooftop bar for panoramic views of the city to include in your Budapest Instagram snaps. Views of St Stephen’s Basilica go perfectly with a glass of vino.
Read alsoThe best terraces in Budapest – PHOTOS
Read alsoThe best confectioneries in Lake Balaton — PHOTOS
Here are the most and least popular foreign politicians in Hungary
The Hungarian population is hardly divided when it comes to politics, not to mention the perception of the most significant global political figures. Latter has been confirmed by the latest Civitas Institute poll, which measured the sympathy index of foreign politicians in Hungary. In the followings, we reveal who are the most popular and least popular global politicians according to Hungarians.
Within the framework of the Civital Institute poll, respondents were asked on a five-point scale how much they liked the listed politicians. Overall, it seems that „western” politicians are more popular in Hungary than their „eastern” counterparts. However, the division of domestic political views is also an important factor that is reflected in the results of the poll. As CEA Magazine reports,
the most popular foreign politician in Hungary is the Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz.
Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron are in the middle-field of the overall ranking, according to which Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has gained the least popularity.
However, domestic political views also need to be considered. According to the voters of Fidesz-KDNP, Vladimir Putin is the winner of the ranking, followed by Sebastian Kurz and Xi Jinpiing, President of the People’s Republic of China. These respondents consider the Turkish President as the fourth and Ursula von der Leyen (President of the European Commission) as the fifth most popular global political figures. As CEA Magazine reports, the preference of pro-government voters might be explained by the Hungarian government’s „Eastern Opening” foreign trade policy and the Covid-19 vaccine programme. At the end of the list, we can find Joe Biden, which serves as a shred of evidence that the political views of the US President are the least likeable for Fidesz voters.
Not surprisingly, the ranking of opposition voters shows totally different results. In their case, the most preferred political figures represent the European Union and the United States. Based on their responses, Alexei Navalny, a Russian opposition politician, has the highest sympathy rates, followed by Ursula von der Leyen in the second and the US President in the third place. In the case of opposition voters, the least popular politicians are Xi Jinping and Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The popularity of Russian politicians in both cases suggests the significant impact of Russian politics on Hungary.
Considering the different rankings, it can be concluded that the global political preferences of Hungarians depend significantly on their domestic political views. As a result, pro-government voters and opposition supporters are strongly divided in the field of international politics as well.
Read alsoVladimir Putin and Joe Biden consider meeting for a summit this summer
Hungarian universities in the top 100!
Compiled by Times Higher Education and measuring the impact of higher education institutions in 17 categories, the list features six Hungarian universities in total.
According to hellomagyar.hu, the rankings, which were recently published for the 3rd time, are based on the research activity of the institutions in relation to the sustainable development goals of the UN. Some examples are no poverty, good health and well-being, sustainable cities and communities, and climate action. The full list includes a total of 1,115 universities from 94 countries.
In terms of overall performance, the University of Pécs reached the highest position, ranked somewhere between 201st and 300th, the same category as the Sorbonne in Paris or the University of Massachusetts.
“Naturally, we are very happy about the results, but we still have a long way to go. Future development is possible with the help of our excellent teachers and students and increasingly better research background, thanks to the funding we have received both from local organisations and the EU,” said Attila Miseta, rector of the University of Pécs, in an interview with BAMA.hu.
It was not the only non-Budapest institution to do well: the University of Debrecen and the University of Szeged both made it into the next division (301-400), while the highest-ranking university of the capital, Semmelweis University, only got as far as 401-500. However, that is not to say that Semmelweis is not an excellent university, rather, that it is a specialised one, only offering medicine-related degrees.
In fact, in the category of good health and well-being, Semmelweis was ranked as the 10th best university in the world, tied with the Kaohsiung Medical University of Taiwan.
The University of Debrecen also achieved a high score in this category, coming in at 87th. The University of Szeged was featured in all area-specific rankings, which is an impressive feat in itself, ranking 57th in the “Zero Hunger” category, 59th in “Life below water”, and 84th in “Life on land”. In the case of the latter two, the University of Szeged was not the only top-ranking Hungarian university, as the University of Debrecen placed 100th in “Life below water” and the University of Pécs came in at 99th in “Life on land”.
The remaining two Hungarian universities, Eötvös Loránd University and Szent István University, which were included in the ranking, did not do particularly well in any of the sub-rankings, the only notable result being the 201-300th place of ELTE in gender equality research.
Read alsoPensions vary significantly between genders across Europe
Budapest among the most livable cities in the EU?! – Fresh statistics
According to the latest Eurostat statistics, Budapest overtakes several European metropolises in terms of living standards. Let’s see how livable the Hungarian capital is!?
Every year, Eurostat publishes detailed economic data that can be used to compare living standards in each EU region. Due to large price differences between the countries, Eurostat also converts GDP data into a fictitious currency, the so-called PPS (Purchasing Power Standard). In order to carry out a realistic comparison in terms of livability between the countries, the different price levels are completely deducted by PPS and show the actual standard of living. The latest figures – that were published last week – show the ranking based on the situation in 2019;
according to which, Budapest is ahead of such cities as Vienna, Berlin or Madrid.
With this positive result, Budapest has realised its determination to become a more livable city than Vienna in 2019. As the Hungarian news portal Növekedés reports, besides the Hungarian capital, the big cities of Central and Eastern European countries also perform well. By way of example, Prague ranks second after top-ranked Luxembourg, followed by Dublin in the third, Brussels in the fourth and Paris in the fifth place.
Region GDP per capita (PPS)
- Luxembourg 81,000
- Prague 63,900
- Dublin and surroundings 63,100
- Brussels and surroundings 63,000
- Paris and its region 55,200
- Amsterdam and surroundings 53,000
- Copenhagen and surroundings 51,900
- Stockholm 51,900
- Bratislava and surroundings 50,400
- Warsaw and its region 49,800
- Bucharest and its region 49,700
- Budapest 47,100
- Vienna 46,400
- Helsinki and surroundings 45,000
- Madrid and surroundings 38,500
- Berlin 38,200
- Rome and its region 34,300
- Ljubljana and surroundings 33,000
- Lisbon and surroundings 32,000
- Athen and surroundings 28,400
- Sofia and its region 27,700
- Zagreb and surroundings 20,500
Considering the full list, Budapest is ranked in the middle field in terms of livability; however, the figures for Hungary’s countryside achieved much worse results. This also shows that Budapest has a huge predominance in the Hungarian economy.
According to the fresh statistics published by Eurostat, Central Hungary is the only region that exceeds the EU average.
After that, Western Transdanubia is the second-best, with 71% of the EU average. The Northern Great Plain and Northern Hungary are some of the poorest regions in the Union.
Bulgarian regions mainly dominate the negative top list. However, a French overseas territory has also been included: on the island of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, the standard of living of the 250,000 inhabitants has reached 32% of the EU average, just like in the case of the Severozapaden region in Bulgaria.
Read alsoBudapest is safer and more livable than London
This Budapest cinema is ranked among the TOP 10 most beautiful cinemas in the world – PHOTOS
There is a new attraction on the bucket list that is worth a stop during your next visit to Budapest. The fabulous Puskin Art Cinema in Budapest has been ranked among the most beautiful movie theatres in the world, which brings its audience to the “golden age” of movies.
As international magazine Timeout reports “we do cinemas in style in Budapest” that can be best proven by the amazing, golden-decorated Puskin Art Cinema on the Pest side of the Hungarian capital. Furthermore, what is even more honourable is that
the international ranking lists the Budapest movie theatre as the 10th most beautiful cinema in the world.
Puskin Art Cinema opened its doors in 1926 under the name Forum. In the beginning, 623 spectators could fit in one hall; however, since 2013, the cinema has been divided into five halls named after classic films like Amarcord, Mephisto, Carousel, Annie Hall, and Metropolis.
Besides its popular art movies, we must mention the fabulous gold decorations and glorious interior design of the cinema that can be considered an architectural masterpiece. That is why Timeout reported that in Puskin, the viewer is brought into the “golden age” of movies.
The awarded cinema has an important role in the history of Hungarian movie theatres as,
in 1929, the first sound film in Hungary was projected here.
As Hungarian news portal Index reports, the Budapest cinema is listed among such popular movie theatres as Le Grand Rex in Paris, the Cinerama Dome in Los Angeles, and the Cineteca in Madrid. According to the ranking of Timeout, the most beautiful cinema in the world is Pathé Tuschinski in Amsterdam due to its unique interior decorations and the iconic five-dollar milkshake at the cinema buffet from Tarantino’s famous movie, Pulp Fiction.
The full list can be checked out HERE.
Read alsoLuxurious cinema in Budapest? Yes, it is real! – PHOTOS
Featured image: www.facebook.com/PuskinArtMozi/