Working Life Barometer in the Baltic Countries 2002 (pdf) - mol.fi

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Once a year a taxpayer is allowed to make voluntary corrections in the
appropriate tax declaration. This results in cancellation of any penalties
pending for tax non-compliance.
Decision of the tax authority may be appealed with the Director of the State
Revenue Service within 30 days from the date the decision is received.
The macroeconomic policy mix has been adequate and managed to cope with
external shocks. The monetary framework, defined by the peg of the lat, has
been stable and predictable. Fiscal policy has been responsive to this
framework, by adopting a prudent stance overall, translating into relatively
low deficits on average, and flexibility in times of adverse economic shocks.
This was in particular the case in 1999 in the aftermath of the Russian crisis,
when automatic stabilisers were allowed to play freely and some tax arrears
were extended, leading to a temporary sharp increase in the government deficit
in 1999.
Price liberalisation was completed prior to 1997, and market forces determine
the majority of prices of goods and services. The proportion of items whose
prices are regulated has been the same for several years, at about 20% of
consumer price index, CPI. It is mainly prices for the services of public
utilities that are still regulated; e.g. electricity, gas, water and telephone
services. A cost-recovery mechanism is in place.
The share of the private sector increased rapidly up to 1998 and has continued
to increase since, but at a slower pace. Some 62% of GDP were produced in
the private sector in 1997, which had increased to 69% by 2001. In terms of
employment, the percentage is slightly higher.
The land reform is close to being completed, and about 90% of agricultural
lands are in private hands. A real-estate market exists and a system of
mortgage lending is fully operational. The privatisation of apartments is
ongoing. Of all apartments, some 95% are assigned for privatisation, and of
these about 77% had been privatised by 31 October 2001.
The privatisation process is nearly completed, but some large companies are
still state-owned. Privatisation of small and medium-sized enterprises was by
and large completed in mid-1998. However, the process has been slower since