Since Estonia adopted a flat tax rate in 1994, enjoying very robust GDP growth ever since, Eastern European countries have been gradually warming to this system that promises to attract foreign direct investment, increase transparency, and drastically curb tax evasion. Slovakia, Romania, Albania and many former Soviet republics have all adopted a flat tax. Now it’s Bulgaria’s turn: yesterday, the government declared it will introduce a flat tax rate on personal income. At 10 percent, Bulgaria’s flat tax rate will be among the lowest in the world, down from a tax rate that currently ranges between 20 and 24 percent. [...]
WASHINGTON — During the past seven years, according to Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Vuk Jeremic, Serbia has held democratic elections, established a market economy and strived for active participation in NATO’s Partnership for Peace program. Jeremic, who met with reporters at the National Press Club in Washington on July 27, says that for Democracy to now truly flourish in the Balkans, the tiny province of Kosovo must remain part of Serbia, which is the largest block of the former Yugoslavia. He stressed that progress made by Serbia since 2000 will “likely be reversed if the imposition of independence of [...]
The Hill newspaper has conducted an interesting survey, asking senators how many times they had visited Iraq. Patrick Fitzgerald, the author of the article accompanying the survey results, notes that “visiting Iraq has become a rite of passage for many lawmakers lookingto bolster their credibility on national security. Many lawmakers feelthat making a trip is important for their credibility when they areasked to weigh in on the war” As for the results, the survey reveals that “At least 76 senators have visited Iraq in the four years of combat, including 38 who have made the trip in the last 12 [...]
