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Salaries and pensions in Pernik district continue to increase, while the poverty rate remains low. The labor force is represented by a relatively high share of the population with secondary education. Investment activity is weak. Pernik is among the districts with the highest road density. The share of the population living in settlements with public sewerage remains high. The average rates of taxes on vehicles and on retail trade in the district are relatively low. The assessment of transparency in the work of municipalities is lower than the national average.

The gross domestic product, wages and pensions in Pazardzhik district continue to grow, but remain relatively low. Employment and unemployment are increasing simultaneously. Investment and business activity in the district are weak. The density of the road network, as well as the share of motorways and first-class roads, are lower than average, but the quality of the road surface in the district remains relatively high. The average amount of local taxes is low. Transparency in the work of the administration is assessed relatively low.

In connection with the submitted for public discussion Draft Decision on granting a mandate to the National Statistical Institute to conduct negotiations with the statistical office of the European Commission "Eurostat" for a change in the scope of Level 2 regions in the Republic of Bulgaria, the Institute for Market Economics offers a comment on the proposals made for new zoning and its alternative.

Montana is among the districts with relatively low incomes and living standards. Employment and unemployment are growing simultaneously and remain significantly less favorable than the national average. Investment and business activity in the district are relatively weak. The density of the road and railway network remains lower than the national average. The average level of local taxes in the municipalities of the district is the lowest in the country. The share of own revenues in the total revenues in the municipalities of the district is very limited. The continuing aging of the population in the country is particularly visible in Montana district. Student results are low. Access to general practitioners in the district is relatively high. The number of beds in multi-profile hospitals remains significantly higher than the national average. The relative number of registered crimes is relatively high. The volume of waste in the district is small, and its management is good. Cultural life and tourism in Montana district are among the least intensive in the country.

The latest regional GDP figures indicate a normalisation after the various anomalies in energy, agriculture and tourism in previous years. Sofia is regaining its 43% share of the national economy, but the fastest growth is recorded in relatively underdeveloped regions. However, regional inequalities remain large, and in the absence of reforms, convergence seems increasingly distant in the future.

The gross domestic product per capita in Lovech district is slowing down. Poverty is decreasing, but remains relatively high. The labor market in the district is further deteriorating due to rising unemployment and a decline in employment. Business and investment activity are increasing, but remain relatively weak. The absorption of European funds is close to the national average. The quality of the road surface remains high. Local taxes in the district are among the lowest in the country. Transparency in the work of local government bodies is assessed well. Due to the strongly negative natural increase, Lovech is among the districts with a high level of aging. Student results are relatively low, and vocational education does not meet the demand in the economy. The number of general practitioners remains higher than the national average. Beds in multi-profile hospitals remain few. The detection rate of crimes is relatively high. The volume of generated household waste is not significant, but the share of waste submitted for treatment and recycling remains extremely small. Cultural life is not particularly intense.

The gross domestic product per capita in Kyustendil district is growing, but significantly slower than the average. The labor market is developing well. Employment is increasing, and unemployment is decreasing. Investment activity in Kyustendil district is among the weakest in the country. The density of the road and railway network remains high. The average amount of local taxes in the municipalities of Kyustendil district is close to the average. The assessment of the transparency of the work of local administrations is increasing, but remains low. Kyustendil is among the districts with the most aging population.