The Czech Republic

Also known as Czechia, the landlocked republic is both one of Europe’s newest states and one of its oldest cultures – a combination of old and new that could be a metaphor for the whole country.

Building on the past

Travellers love the Czech Republic for Prague, the ‘handsomest city in Europe’ and its beer but the country has also given the world the concept of ‘bohemian’, Dvořák and of course the Skoda.

Coming into being on the split from Slovakia in 1993, the Czech lands have variously been independent in the forms of the medieval kingdom of Bohemia or twentieth century Czechoslovakia or have been incorporated into one of Europe’s continental empires.

It sits at the confluence of German, Italian, Russian and of course its own, cultural influences, making it a favourite for tourists, art lovers and historians alike.

The energetic present

Other than Estonia, the Czech Republic’s GDP per capita is the highest of former communist bloc countries. Now a member of the European Union, the Czech Republic also punches above its weight as part of the Visegrad Group of former Warsaw Pact countries, alongside Poland, Slovakia and Hungary.

At a creditable 41st on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings, it is ahead of fellow EU members the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy, among others.

As well as an important automobile and electronics industry, the country is an important iron and steel producer (not to mention brewing). Not a member of the Eurozone, the Czech Republic uses the Czech koruna, though that does nothing to diminish the importance of neighbouring Germany to its imports (26%) or exports (31%).

Check it out

In short if you are thinking of life as digital nomad or to expand your business, the Czech Republic should be on your shortlist. Na Zdravi!

 

 

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/czech-republic

https://www.britannica.com/place/Czech-Republic

Ease of Doing business – https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IC.BUS.EASE.XQ?locations=CZ

GDP per capita – https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD