The Slovak economy has visibly slowed down following a series of consolidation packages, with growth hovering around one percent. Without financial support from the recovery plan, this growth would be nearly non-existent. Currently, the country lags behind its neighbors in both gross and net wages, faces higher inflation, and businesses are contending with increasing costs, yet the fiscal deficit remains unaddressed.

Economist Matej Horňák points out that the attractiveness of Slovakia for investments is decreasing, as firms are increasingly hesitant to invest in the country. Despite the government's efforts under Robert Fico's fourth administration to implement three consolidation packages over two and a half years, these measures have not fostered economic growth; instead, they seem to have contributed to the ongoing slowdown. Predictions from both the Budgetary Council and the Institute for Financial Policy have worsened due to these economic challenges.

Slovakia's high income taxation hampers its competitive edge as it continues to fall behind Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary in terms of net wages. While Polish wages are moving further away, Hungary is catching up, and there is no significant movement towards parity with the Czech Republic. The ongoing consolidation has not only increased prices but has also significantly slowed overall economic performance, raising concerns about the country's ability to keep pace with more developed EU nations.