Simona Prijaković and Leonarda Srdelić, researchers at the Institute of Public Finance, have become part of the international research project LIFT (Leveraging Insights for Taxation) implemented by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This global initiative brings together teams that develop advanced and widely applicable methodologies for analysing microeconomic data on taxes and transactions between companies. The goal is to gain a better understanding of economic flows and the behaviour of entrepreneurs and consumers, thereby enabling the transition from administrative records to operational tools for shaping public policies.

As part of the LIFT project, Prijaković and Srdelić will use firm-level microdata to calculate advanced indicators of the network structure of the economy. This will enable the identification of companies and sectors most engaged in mutual trade, monitor the share of different VAT rates (5, 13 and 25%), and assess the effects of tax policies. The analysis can also explore the seasonality and dynamics of business transactions, the resilience of individual sectors, and the network of business connections between companies.

The Institute’s participation in the LIFT project enables comparison of research results for Croatia with data from other OECD and EU member states, thus providing a clearer picture of the position of the Croatian economy’s position in the international context. The conducted analyses can help policymakers create more effective tax policy measures, strengthen economic resilience, and encourage green and digital transitions. The involvement of Institute researchers in the project also ensures active participation in the international methodological community, exchange of best practices, review of results, and greater visibility of Croatian experiences. In this way, the Institute of Public Finance confirms its important role in international research and contributes to the development of data-based public policies.