A typical day at the foreign exchange offices in downtown Tirana on 28 October 2025 reveals more than any statistical report. While the official euro exchange rate stands at around 96.8 lek, several currency exchange offices in the physical market...
Albania’s economic history shows that the country has gone through different periods of growth, often closely linked to new political spaces and economic opportunities. After 1991, economic liberalization and large-scale privatizations created an initial boost in productivity, but it was...
The rise in housing prices in Albania is producing a double effect. On the one hand, it increases the wealth of households and businesses with more real estate, giving them easier access to credit. On the other hand, it is...
The rise in housing prices in Albania is producing a double effect. On the one hand, it increases the wealth of families and businesses with more property, enabling them easier access to credit. On the other hand, it is creating...
In the second half of 2025, the Albanian economy finds itself in a delicate transition phase, with macroeconomic indicators presenting a dual picture: on one hand, stable economic growth, a strong labor market, and increasing purchasing power, and on the...
A critical analysis based on the IMF Framework on Regional Economic Development and Convergence with the EU In 2024, Albania remains significantly behind the European average in terms of income per capita, particularly when measured by purchasing power parity (PPP).According...
According to historical data, the minimum wage in Albania has had an interrupted and politicized history since the 1990s. Initially, it was set to define a minimal standard of living after the transition from a planned economy to a free...
Raising the minimum wage is a complex decision that must consider the balance between workers' welfare and businesses' capacity to bear it. If the minimum wage increases without being based on productivity or economic growth, it may cause issues such...
Wage growth is a complex issue tied to multiple economic, political, and labor market factors. It has both immediate and long-term impacts on employees and employers—but who is the primary beneficiary of this process? The answer depends on the perspective...
Albania has made some visible progress during the 2022–2024 period, including moderate economic growth and important structural reforms. However, this progress has faced major obstacles that are negatively affecting productivity growth and the competitiveness of the economy. Despite economic growth,...
