Escriva Says Symmetric 2% Goal Should Remain ECB's Primary Guide
The European Central Bank is right to focus on a symmetric 2% inflation target, according to Governing Council member Jose Luis Escriva.
That goals 'has been key to keeping inflation expectations anchored over the years, even during recent episodes of high inflation, and should remain our primary guide in the coming years,' he wrote in Spanish newspaper Expansion on Tuesday.
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Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Poland trials a four-day working week: A step towards the future?
The idea of reducing working time is one that has received much attention. For several years now, this topic has regularly appeared in public debates, not only in Poland, but also in many other countries. Employees are increasingly saying they are overburdened, lacking time for their private life, health, and family. Statistics from Poland reiterate this narrative; the country is one of the busiest nations in the European Union. At the same time, more and more countries are experimenting with "smarter work". In Iceland, Belgium, Spain and even Japan, various models of a shorter working week have already been tested or introduced. The results? Mostly positive: higher productivity, reduced sick leave, improved working atmospheres. Today's labour market is vastly different from that seen a century ago, when the eight-hour working day was first introduced in Poland. Technology, automation and societal changes mean that many jobs can be done faster and more efficiently. Today, more than ever, it is not necessarily the time spent in the office that counts, but the quality of the work done. There is no single opinion among employers when it comes to the topic of the four-day working week. Large companies, especially in the creative and technology industries, are looking at the idea with interest. Some are already introducing flexible working hours or testing shorter weeks. The situation is different in the SME sector, as small and medium-sized companies are usually more cautious. They fear that a shorter week could lead to cash flow problems, a drop in revenue or the need to hire additional staff. This is why the government's financial support could be crucial for businesses trialling the new work model, protecting against the risk of serious losses. Advocates of a shorter working week argue that less time spent at work doesn't have to lower productivity. On the contrary, they argue that by organising work in a smarter way, the same — or even better — results can be achieved in less time. Studies in other countries show an increase in efficiency, reduced resource use, fewer errors and increased team creativity. Of course, there are also sceptics. Some economists warn that there could be an increase in companies' operating costs and, consequently, a decrease in competitiveness or a stifling of GDP growth. To tackle these risks, the pilot project aims to rely on data rather than guesswork. Some employers are already taking decisions to reduce working hours. Herbapol Poznań, as well as city halls in Włocławek, Ostrzeszów, Świebodzice or Leszno are just a few examples of institutions that have decided to take this step. The conclusions? Employees are more engaged, less stressed and the quality of their work is higher. Changing the working model is not only an organisational issue. It's also a mental shift — from a time-control approach to one that rewards efficiency, trust and a healthy work-life balance. Although the pilot comes with risks, advocates of the model say it is an opportunity to ensure that professional success is not paid for by burnout. The pilot in Poland could be the first step towards systemic change, which many are already waiting for.
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
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Advisors urge Spanish SMEs to prepare for invoicing reform
The majority of advisors have urged small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) in Spain to prepare for invoicing reform, according to the latest edition of Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting Spain's Advisory Barometer report. The 2025 study delves into digital advancements and regulatory shifts in the field. It remains a vital guide for Spain's tax, accounting, and labour specialists. The research shows 63% of advisors pressing SMEs to gear up for invoicing changes. Yet, 55% note that SMEs lack readiness for these legal updates. The report covers new mandates on Computerised and Electronic Invoicing Systems. Economic confidence prevails, with 63.8% of firms seeing revenue growth last year. Almost 59% anticipate sustained income increases in 2025. Half of the firms report yearly earnings between €150,000 ($177,000) and €500,000 ($590,000). Digital transformation is key, with 40% of advisors viewing it as a growth catalyst. Cloud technology and automation are gaining traction in professional practices, according to the latest report. Invoicing systems (41.2%) and AI productivity tools (25.5%) top planned tech spending. Regulatory shifts are boosting workloads, as reported by 80.2% of firms. More than 71% are turning to software to handle these new requirements. Time-tracking systems are essential for 90% to meet new labour regulations. Knowledge of invoicing rules is strong, with 82.8% of advisors well-informed. Nearly 63% suggest invoicing software to their SME clients. The industry is evolving, with 57.4% of advisors prioritising consultancy roles. Technological change poses the biggest hurdle for 62.4% of firms. Shifting demands from younger clients worry 50.6% of advisors. The study highlights the sector's strategic shift amid regulatory challenges. Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting Europe South Region vice president & general manager Tomàs Font said: 'The Advisory Barometer 2025 once again puts on the table the most immediate challenges for professional firms, starting with the regulatory changes in the area of invoicing, which will have a profound impact on companies and will require them to accelerate their digitalization. 'Almost two thirds of advisors are already actively advising their clients to anticipate these changes, which is evidence that the sector is accompanying companies in adapting to this important transformation of invoicing processes.. "Our hope is that the findings of this fourth edition of the Advisory Barometer will serve as a guide and enable professional firms to make informed decisions to successfully meet the challenges that lie ahead for this industry.' "Advisors urge Spanish SMEs to prepare for invoicing reform" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
an hour ago
- Forbes
How To Build A $100,000/Year Income With ChatGPT
Many Americans say they need to earn in excess of $100,000 to be financially comfortable How much do you think you could you afford to live on comfortably? Perhaps $80,000? Or $100,000? Maybe push it as high as $150,000? Think that last figure looks incredulous? Check again. A new Bankrate survey lifted the lid on the state of salaries in America, and showed just how 'wealthy' you are, even when making close to six figures. About three in four Americans say they don't feel financially secure, mainly due to inflation (despite it cooling recently). Bankrate's report explains: "For example, a $100,000 salary in January 2020 has the same buying power as $124,353 in April 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In other words, if you haven't received a raise since 2020, higher inflation feels like losing $24,000 of your salary." The report continued, 'More than one in four (26%) U.S. adults say they would need to make $150,000 or more per year to feel financially secure/comfortable. That's nearly twice the typical national salary: The average full-time, year-round worker made $81,515 in 2023, according to the latest estimates from the BLS.' Purdue University assistant professor Wookjae Heo noted when speaking to Bankrate for this report that 'most people's money is static," mainly because it is salaried. So here we have a dilemma: You want to raise the ceiling on your earnings, but you can't because your job restricts you and caps your income potential. Quite a scary place to be, right? Well you don't need to be worried, because there's a way to exit the static salaried lifestyle: work for yourself. Why Now Is The Perfect Time To Start A Freelance Business When you decide to take your skills, expertise, and knowledge and amplify them using AI, you're able to experience these benefits: The good news is, even as a beginner, you can make $100,000 and way more, using your skills and AI. How To Use ChatGPT To Start A Lucrative Business AI helps you multiply your output. You don't need years of industry experience. You can start right where you are, and this article will show you how. Even if you're a beginner, early in your career, or new to a particular industry, or new to using AI tools like ChatGPT beyond just for fun or superficial tasks, there are certain skills that you likely already have that you probably take for granted. For example: Some of these may be hobbies, and others are things that you routinely do when no one is watching, because you're skilled in those areas and enjoy them. They come naturally to you. These are the perfect skills to begin with when you're starting your own business, because they don't require you to learn anything new, at least when you're starting out. Of course you'll need to brush up on your knowledge, but you won't need to expend months and years in learning a new skill, because you're capitalising on something that's already accessible. You can even give ChatGPT this prompt: You're a career coach and your mission is to help me discover how to make money with my skills. Ask me a series of questions to help me uncover what my transferable skills are, pulling from my hobbies, interests, and any volunteer or prior work experience, even if initially they seem unrelated. Wherever there are any gaps in your learning or knowledge, use AI to help you accelerate skill building and development. Take a crash course using ChatGPT. For example, you can ask it to: You can also ask it to assign you a learning plan and then follow up with a prompt to get it to give you the content for each aspect of the learning plan, as well as recommendations for how you can develop your skills further so you can be at the top of your industry. This allows you to build skills and knowledge without needing to spend too much time or resources for now. Of course, as you start to earn, you can reinvest into your professional development and undertake professional certifications, training, and online courses. The next step is to launch a simple but high-impact offer that you know solves a pain point in your target client's lives. It could be that your target clients lack a strong LinkedIn presence, they may have low social media engagement, or they might be consistently receiving negative press, and then you could step in with your PR or digital/social media marketing skills. Whatever their pain is, use ChatGPT to: You can get ideas of what specific ChatGPT prompts to use, here in my recent Forbes article. The key to growth of any kind--financial, career, or business, is self-awareness and reflection. Critical thinking and analysis help you read in between the lines, identify patterns, and recognize what's working as well as areas for improvement. This helps you to stop wasting your time and energy on areas of your freelance business (or even ideas) that bring little to no financial results, boosting your efficiency and bringing you closer to your $100,000/year goal. Ask ChatGPT: Based on the photos attached [screenshot your dashboard, results page, feedback online, or other data] what are the key insights I can gather about my audience, my market, and what they need? What is working so far? What are the common themes here, and what should I stop doing, and start doing more of? The most successful freelance professionals and entrepreneurs are able to leverage AI tools such as ChatGPT, not for basic task like writing emails (although that can be helpful) but for strategy, uncovering deep insights, and enabling data-driven decision making. Build Your Income Using ChatGPT Your employer may have given you a payment ceiling; negotiating a pay rise might be challenging or unrealistic. But that doesn't need to limit your options. Start where you are, and combine: This is how you eventually achieve and exceed your $100,000/year goal. You can build a six-figure business as a beginner, leveraging skills you already have FAQs How long does it take to make $100,000 a year? It honestly depends on how much effort and time you put into growing your freelance business, especially at the early stages where you're researching, testing, and iterating. With consistency, using AI tools as assistants, and daily keeping your finger on the pulse of industry and market developments and what your target clientele actually need, it is possible for you to scale to $100,000 annually within a couple of years. What's the fastest way to make $100,000? There's no quick-fix solution. However, the quickest way to achieve this goal is to start by leveraging skills and knowledge you already have. This saves time and enables you to build traction early on.
