Economists: reforms not ambitious enough

Economists have welcomed the proposed cuts in social benefits but they say that the reforms do not go far enough to counter the country's steep fiscal deficit. Ales Michl of Raiffeisenbank says that even if the proposed reforms are implemented the country would still operate on a high deficit in the coming years, which he sees as a big risk for the country's economy. Economists estimate that as late as 2010 the country will still need to operate on a deficit of around 100 billion crowns.