NEWS + ANALYSIS
ZILVINAS SILENAS

NEWS + ANALYSIS

GETTING YOUR REFORM IDEAS ACROSS THE FINISH LINE

September 29, 2017 | by Zilvinas Silenas

Encouraged by Atlas Network’s “Leveraging Indices for Economic Freedom” initiative, the Lithuanian Free Market Institute (LFMI) took up the challenge to implement three changes in Lithuania. First, to reduce time and effort required to get a building permit. Second, to streamline the procedure of connecting new users to the electricity grid. Third, to merge the social security payments by employer and employee into one payment. While this would not actually reduce the effective burden on employees, at least people will finally become aware that in addition to income tax, a third of their earnings are diverted into social security.

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TOPPLE THE LEFTOVER LENINS

January 13, 2014 | by Zilvinas Silenas

Events in Ukraine remind us of what the West takes for granted and the East has worked so hard to achieve. Personal liberty, the rule of law, and a society organized according to voluntary cooperation are not boring givens of everyday life, but ideals for which people are willing to take to the streets. The myriad of commentaries on what caused the recent events range from deep historical investigations, to discussions of the post-Cold War East-West rivalry, to analyses of competing business interests. All have most likely played a part. But in concentrating on key events and personalities, the analyses ignore the fundamental force in Ukraine – her people.

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