Regional economic and transparency trends in Zlín and Slovakia

In the Czech Republic, the city of Zlín has demonstrated improved financial management and transparency. According to data from Hlídač státu, the city's K-Index—a tool measuring risks in public spending—improved from 6.24 in the 2019–2022 period to 5.08 in 2023–2025. This shift moved Zlín from risk zone C to zone B. Key improvements include a reduction in contracts without publicly disclosed prices and fewer contracts with significant formal deficiencies. While the city faced a 105 million CZK deficit last year, its cash reserves grew to 1.06 billion CZK over the last four years.

In Slovakia, the 'Obce v dátach' analytical project released its Quality of Life Index for 2026, highlighting severe regional disparities in housing affordability. The study found that the most affordable areas for housing are located in the south and east, including Medzilaborce, Snina, Revúca, Poltár, and Veľký Krtíš. Conversely, the western regions, including Bratislava, Pezinok, Senec, Trnava, and Piešťany, face the lowest affordability. High demand and investor interest in tourist hubs like Liptovský Mikuláš and Banská Štiavnica have also significantly driven up local property prices.