CSR-Vision

There is no vision of CSR as for yet. However, there is a strong initiative to further CSR in Estonia on behalf of Responsible Business Forum that is carrying out a multistakeholder forum through 2006 to form a CSR vision for Estonia hosting diversity of opinions, views, aspirations and thoughts on responsible business in Estonia and engaging representatives from various stakeholder groups as the private sector, trade associations, academic insitutions, NGO-s, public sector and so on.

Political powers

Estonia is a constitutional democracy, with a president elected by its unicameral parliament (elections every four years). The government or the executive branch is formed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and a total of 14 ministers. The government is appointed by the president after approval by the parliament.
Estonia numbers 15 main administrative subdivisions. Due to the geographical and demographic size of these subdivisions, they are to be considered counties rather than states (Estonian: pl. maakonnad; sg. - maakond).

Geographical details

Area: 45,226 km²
Inhabitants: 1,332,893 (2005)
Population Density: 29,8 inhabitants per sq./km
Other Details: Estonia is one of the smallest countries in Europe in terms of population.

Socio-economic details

Purchasing Power Parity (PPS):
GDP per capita=16,461 € (the highest among the Baltic states).

Other Details: Privatization of energy, telecommunications, railways, and other state-owned companies is a continuing process. The Estonian economy is growing fast, partly due to a number of Scandinavian companies relocating their routine operations and Russian oil transit using Estonian ports. Estonia has a strong information technology (IT) sector. In 1994, Estonia became among the first in the world to adopt a flat tax, with a uniform rate of 26% regardless of the income a person makes. In January 2005 the personal income tax rate was reduced to 24%. Since January 1,2000, companies have not had to pay income tax on re-invested income. However, tax is due on profit distributions (incl. hidden distributions) at a rate of 24%.