SEB Nordic Outlook, May 2011

- The fundamentals are strong in the Nordics, and we see a gradual recovery in the Baltics, said the economist at SEB Research in Stockholm, Daniel Bergvall, as he and his colleague from SEB Estonia, Hardo Pajula, presented SEB's recently published Nordic Outlook at a May 25th SCCE Business Lunch.

Presidential Priorities

The Reform Party, the IRL and the Social Democrats have now declared that they will support the re-election of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at the upcoming Estonian August 2011 Presidential election.

In a recent speech to the IRL party council, President Ilves pointed out the planned areas of focus for his second term.

Increasing labor shortage

Unemployment still remains high in both Estonia and Sweden. At the same time, both countries report difficulties in finding the labor needed.

- You have to go back to the 1980's to find more vacancies not filled up in Sweden, says Almega, the employer and trade organization for the Swedish service sector.

The backside of economic recovery

There is a tragic connection between the shape of the economy and the number of traffic accidents.

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Please enjoy reading e-focus Nr. 6 - 2011.

Sincerely,

Kristiina Sikk
SCCE Ombudsman