
Commentary


Commentary

Latvian central bank economist Krista Kalnbērziņa takes a deep dive into gender inequality and its economic consequences in this piece from the central bank's macroeconomics.lv website.

Soon after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine, LSM brought you a message from Olha, a young woman living in Kyiv as bombs and missiles rained down. Now she tells us how her life has changed in the last twelve months.

Latvian central bank economists Kārlis Vilerts and Matīss Mirošņikovs examine the economic consequences of Russia's warmongering in this new analysis for the central bank's macroeconomics.lv website.

Bank loans represent one of the investment sources ensuring economic development. It is difficult to imagine a situation where the economy can see a dynamic long-term development without lending; therefore, access to loans, especially among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), is of critical importance, writes Latvian central bank economist Andrejs Kurbatskis for Macroeconomics.lv.

Simona Striževska, economist at Citadele Bank subsidiary CBL Asset Management looks at how rate changes are likely to affect borrowers in the Baltic states.

Lieutenant General Ben Hodges is the former Commanding General of the United States Army in Europe, but since retiring from the U.S. military after 38 years of service has forged a career as a geopolitical and military expert.

The 'Latvia Weekly' podcast is back with another review of the week's news in English, a very useful source of discussion on topical matters here in Latvia.

The 'Latvia Weekly' podcast is back with another review of the week's news in English, a very useful source of discussion on topical matters here in Latvia.

"Hello, could I have this bun, please?" a student only half awake addresses the saleswoman, handing her a euro for his daily breakfast.

What music do refugees listen to? Of all the questions I could’ve asked myself while preparing to drive to Ukraine and bring a vanload of them back, that was the one that occurred to me.

The 'Latvia Weekly' podcast is back with another review of the week's news in English, a very useful source of discussion on topical matters here in Latvia.

There is a saying that we appreciate something only when it has passed and ended. Maybe the electricity bill for May will help us realise that the government support provided during the previous months had reduced these bills significantly.

This year's first quarter has pushed many routine things into a vortex and changed the way we perceive peace and everyday life.

A country the size of Latvia isn’t often OVER-represented, but seeing their country’s name one time too many is exactly what raised quite a few of the Rīga International Film Festival (RIGA IFF) delegates’ eyebrows when they opened [influential film industry publication] Screen International at this year’s Cannes Film Festival.

The 'Latvia Weekly' podcast is back with another review of the week's news in English, a very useful source of discussion on topical matters here in Latvia.

The 'Latvia Weekly' podcast is back with another review of the week's news in English, a very useful resource if your ears are demanding some weekend listening.

Since regaining our independence from the Soviet Union, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have been under constant Russian pressure.

As the horrifying images and stories from Bucha are published, the West is grasping to process what has been done there by the Russian army. Some even try to question if it’s real. After WW2 the entire world said “Never again”. But here we are. Again.

'Latvia Weekly' has another podcast ready on the Spotify platform if you are in the mood for a dose of topical listening.

The price of freedom will always be high. Although the military offensive is currently ongoing in Ukraine's territory only, the information and economic warfare has been taking place on the global stage already for quite some time.

'Latvia Weekly' has another podcast ready if you are in the mood for some weekend listening.

March 17 is the national day of Ireland, St. Patrick's Day. To mark the occasion the independent 'Latvia Weekly' podcast has a special edition featuring an interview with the Irish ambassador to Latvia, Eimar Friel.

As the stars on Freedom Monument glittered in the spring sun, tens of thousands of people marched on from Milda, as the sculpted woman on the monument is affectionately called, to the Ukrainian Embassy in Rīga on Saturday in a show of solidarity with tens of millions facing senseless war in a peace-loving country.

Tuesday in northern Latvia was sunny, but still quite cold. The ice gave the impression it couldn't decide whether it should melt, and so would wait a bit longer before committing itself one way or the other.

Former Latvian President (1999-2007) Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga has given LSM her response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As usual it is articulate, insightful and very much to the point. It is reproduced below.

Anyone on the look-out for an English-language podcast to add to their playlist might like to check out 'Latvia Weekly' which, it will not come as a surprise to learn, is both weekly and about Latvia.

Businesswoman Lubomila Jordanova is Co-Founder and CEO of environmental consultancy PlanA and is Head of Jury at the Rimi Baltic Sustainability Awards. Here she offers her blueprint for companies serious about a sustainable future.

In this opinion piece, Armands Broks, board member of the Latvian startup association, and a well-known fintech founder with the TWINO company, says the clean-up of Latvia's banking sector should not become an obstacle to legitimate business and investment.

In this opinion piece, Marija Rucevska, chair of the board at TechChill and co-founder at the company Helve, offers her prognosis for future growth based on a digital economy.

The economy in the Baltic States is heading for its worst year since the financial crisis 2008 and will be hit harder than elsewhere in Europe. Or maybe not?
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