The euro changeover in the Slovak Republic: Implications for inflation and interest rates

On 1 January 2009, the Slovak Republic will adopt the euro and become the 16th member country of the euro area. Euro area membership will have wide-ranging consequences for the Slovak economy.

An informal EDRC seminar took place on 9 July 2008, focussing on the implications of euro adoption for inflation and interest rates in the Slovak Republic, based on the experience of existing euro area countries. The following presentations were made:

• The euro adoption in the Slovak Republic by Viliam Ostrozlik, Deputy Governor, National Bank of Slovakia
• Introduction to the OECD background paper by Andreas Wörgötter, OECD
• Background paper I: The impact of euro adoption on inflation in Slovakia by Isabell Koske, OECD
• The impact of euro adoption in recent cases by Reiner Martin, ECB
• The impact of euro adoption in Austria by Peter Mooslechner, Austrian National Bank
• The recent inflation increase in Slovenia by Bostjan Jazbec, Bank Slovenia
• Background paper II: The impact of euro adoption on interest rates by Felix Hüfner, OECD
• Balassa-Samuelson effects in central and eastern Europe are not in uniform by Balázs Égert, OECD
• Euro adoption by Slovakia: The challenges ahead by Massimo Suardi, EC

The Slovak Republic Desk in the OECD Economics Department prepared a background study on the topic which was presented in the seminar and subsequently at a press conference in Bratislava on 17 July 2008.  See also the presentation of the background paper by Andrew Dean at the press conference.

Additional information                                                                                                  

• OECD Slovak Republic
• List of Slovak Republic Surveys

For further information please contact the Slovak Republic Desk at the OECD Economics Department at eco.survey@oecd.org.