To disseminate free market ideas and gain passage for policy proposals, LFMI's team members participate in, and testify before, cabinet meetings, parliamentary committee sittings, policy-drafting groups, non-governmental forums, and public events. The LFMI has cultivated a friendly relationship with mass media and is regarded as a source of valuable information and analysis for reporters. LFMI's policy analysts publish and comment extensively in periodicals. Advantages of live communication are exploited through appearances on radio and television. These tools have proved constructive in enriching public debates, making a profound impact on the legislative outcome and strengthening the democratic process.

Private Enterprise

LFMI evaluated a draft law on competition and submitted comments to the Economic Committee. On October 30 LFMI staged a major conference "Competition Law and the Right to Compete." The event had a significant impact on parliamentary committees' policy debates on the draft law. The conference was highlighted in The Baltic Times of November 5-11, the business Verslo Žinios paper of November 11, Kauno Diena of November 19.

LFMI prepared a policy study on the problems confronting private businesses and proposed ways to eliminate or reduce them. The policy proposals were submitted tot he Economic Ministry and other government institutions.

LFMI evaluated a draft law on leasing and submitted its conclusions and proposals to the Economic Ministry and parliamentary committees. LFMI's recommendations were designed to prevent the introduction of excessive regulations and restrictions on leasing activities. As a result, some provisions of the draft were replaced. A prohibition was lifted to provide leasing services for consumption purposes. Šimašius commented on taxation of leasing activities in the November 27 Verslo Žinios.

LFMI evaluated a draft law on investment and submitted proposals for its revision to the government and the Economic Ministry. LFMI pointed out that the enforcement of the law would lead to nationalising of the investment process and distort the natural movement of capital.

Elena Leontjeva commented on the law on small and medium-sized enterprise in the October 12 Lietuvos Rytas.

Šimašius was cited about retail trade regulations in the October 26 Lietuvos Rytas.

Fiscal Policy

LFMI analysed the 1999 budget proposal and formulated comments and recommendations for its improvement. LFMI's position was widely presented in the media. Elena Leontjeva commented in the Verslo Žinios paper of November 4, Respublika of November 20, and Lietuvos Rytas of December 12. Rūta Vainienė was featured in the Lietuvos Rytas daily, October 27 and December 7. Remigijus Šimašius appeared in Lietuvos Rytas of October 14, November 4, and December 7.

LFMI evaluated the procedures for recognition of exploitation, maintenance and representation costs of fixed assets applicable to payers of corporate income tax. Conclusions and proposals were submitted to the Finance Ministry.

LFMI submitted to the Economic and Finance Ministries proposals for the improvement of the conditions for merchandise when lump-sum income tax is paid.

LFMI widely commented on the introduction of, and increase in, excise duties effected in Lithuania as of January 1999. LFMI's opinion and comments were featured in Lietuvos Rytas of November 3 and 30 and December 12 and 14, Klaipėda of November 18, Respublika of November 3 and December 7.

LFMI's position on the introduction of capital gains tax was featured in the October 1 Respublika and The Baltic Times of October 8-14.

LFMI's proposals for tax reform were mentioned in the November 2 Verslo Žinios.

Financial Infrastructure

LFMI continued to participate in the policy making on pension fund legislation. The bill on private pension funds was submitted to parliament. LFMI's policy advocacy efforts were intended to ensure that the pension fund law provide for a transparent and sound operation of pension funds. In December, an alternative project was submitted to parliament, providing for the establishment of employer-sponsored pension funds.

Audronė Morkūnienė attended testified before the parliamentary Social Security and Labour Committee, October 12, and Finance and Budget Committee, November 23. She attended meetings of the policy-drafting group, November 10 and 11.

On November 19 LFMI organised a seminar "The Draft Law on Pension Funds: Solutions and Alternatives." The event was held in the parliament and was intended to resolve the remaining problems in the draft law and to support appropriate provisions before parliamentary considerations of the bill. The seminar was featured in Respublika and Lietuvos Aidas of November 20, Verslo Žinios of November 23, The Baltic Times of November 26, and the December issue of the Esu journal.

An interview with Audronė Morkūnienė about private pension insurance appeared in the Šeimininkė paper, October 7.

After debates in December, the parliament decided to suspend deliberations of the draft law on employer-sponsored pension funds and to register for debates the former bill.

Other areas

LFMI's survey of macroeconomic variables received an extensive coverage in mass media. It was featured in Respublika, November 21 and 25 and December 3 and 8, Verslo Žinios, November 27, Kauno Diena, November 26, Lietuvos Aidas, November 25, the Veidas journal, November 26, The Baltic Times, December 3-9. Guoda Steponavičienė contributed an article about LFMI's survey to the Naujasis Židinys journal, No 7-10, 1998.

Remigijus Šimašius commented customs procedures in the November 2 Lietuvos Rytas. Rūta Vainienė was cited in Lietuvos Rytas of October 26.

Elena Leontjeva was cited about the currency board system in the November 4 Respublika. Rūta Vainienė commented on the current monetary policy system in the Atgimimas paper of November 20.

Audronė Morkūnienė commented on the subject of severance payments to employees of bankrupt companies in the November 3 Respublika.

Rūta Vainienė contributed an opinion column on advertising legislation to the November issue of the Esu journal.

Rūta Vainienė was quoted about the use of privatisation proceeds in Atgimimas, October 9.

Elena Leontjeva was cited about the crisis in Russia in The Chicago Tribune of October 9.

Audronė Morkūnienė criticised an increase in the minimum wages in the October 26 Lietuvos Rytas.

Guoda Steponavičienė commented on transport regulations in Lietuvos Rytas of October 26.