Finance Think

What Finance Think does

Finance Think is an independent, non-profit economic policy research institute founded in 2012 and headquartered in Skopje, North Macedonia, focused on evidence-based economic research and policy analysis for North Macedonia and the broader Western Balkans region. The institute operates seven research programs covering growth and development policies, poverty and employment, fiscal transparency and accountability, competitiveness and EU accession, gender and income inequalities, municipal finance, and the green economy, serving government institutions, civil society organizations, academic institutions, and international development partners.

Its core technical assets are three proprietary microsimulation models — MK-MOD for taxes and benefits, MK-Labour for labor supply, and MK-Pens for dynamic pension analysis — alongside the FISKAST regional fiscal data network, the KOMPEAS government promise monitoring tool covering the 2024-2028 cycle, the DataMapper interactive visualization platform, and a steady publication stream including the Quarterly Monitor, Policy Briefs, Policy Studies, FT Comment, and FT Opinion. These outputs are produced in Macedonian and English and disseminated through publications, media engagement, conferences, workshops, and digital channels.

Finance Think operates a grant-funded business model, deriving revenue from project-based funding provided by international donors and development partners including the European Union, USAID, UK Aid, Swiss SDC, Open Society Foundations, the World Bank, UNDP, UN Women, the US Embassy Skopje, and the British Embassy Skopje, alongside strategic partnerships with organizations such as CIVICA, the International Budget Partnership, the WebEcon network, and the Government of North Macedonia. The institute earned the European Commission's HR Excellence in Research award and distributes its work through direct institutional engagement, regional networks, and recurring public events.

Name

Finance Think

Legal name

Finance Think

Website

https://financethink.mk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Finance Think is an independent, non-profit economic policy research institute in Skopje, North Macedonia, operating microsimulation models and policy analyses for government, civil society, and international development partners across North Macedonia and the Western Balkans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Policy Research

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

Keywords

• Economic policy research
• Fiscal analysis
• Microsimulation modeling
• Think tank research
• Policy advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Skopje

HQ country

North Macedonia

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Projects: Finance Think operates primarily as a grant-funded research organization, receiving financial support from international donors, development agencies, and government institutions for specific research projects and policy analysis work.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Finance Think is an independent non-profit economic policy research institute that conducts evidence-based economic analysis and provides policy recommendations for North Macedonia and the Western Balkans. Its core deliverables include proprietary microsimulation models for tax, labor, and pension analysis (MK-MOD, MK-Labour, MK-Pens), a government promise monitoring tool (KOMPAS), an interactive DataMapper platform, and a portfolio of regular publications including the Quarterly Monitor and policy briefs.

Product overview

Finance Think is an economic research institute operating as a single organizational entity focused on policy research and analysis. The organization offers a portfolio of economic microsimulation models (MK-MOD for taxes/benefits, MK-Labour for labor supply, MK-Pens for pension analysis), a government promise monitoring tool (KOMPAS), various publications (Quarterly Monitor, Policy Briefs, Policy Studies, FT Comment, FT Opinion), and a DataMapper platform. These products serve government agencies, civil society organizations, and international organizations working on economic policy in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• COMPAS: Promise monitoring initiative tracking government commitments in economic and social domains (2024-2028)
• Makro-Monitor
• MK-MOD

Products and services

• MK-MOD Microsimulation Model for Taxes and Benefits A microsimulation model for taxes and benefits that models the distributional impact of fiscal policies on households and individuals in North Macedonia. Used by government institutions and researchers for evidence-based fiscal policy analysis.
• MK-Labour Labor Supply Model A model for analyzing labor supply dynamics and workforce participation patterns in the Macedonian economy. Used by policymakers and researchers for employment policy analysis.
• MK-Pens Dynamic Microsimulation Pension Model A dynamic microsimulation pension model for analyzing pension system sustainability and reform scenarios in North Macedonia. Used for pension policy analysis and projections.
• KOMPAS Government Promise Monitoring A monitoring tool for tracking and analyzing progress on government promises and policy commitments across socio-economic domains, covering the 2024-2028 parliamentary term. Used by civil society organizations and the public for government accountability.
• DataMapper An interactive data visualization platform providing access to economic indicators including fiscal data, municipal budgets, quality of life metrics, remittances, and gender economic disparities. Used by researchers, policymakers, and the public for data-driven economic analysis.

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Competition Protection CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 June 2026Partnership memorandum establishing framework for cooperation in transparency and data availability for state aid analysis.
• CIVICAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for civil society strengthening and governance programs in the Western Balkans region.
• International Budget Partnership (IBP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on budget transparency and public finance monitoring programs.
• World BankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on fiscal councils, economic analysis, and participation in peer learning events.
• UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on sustainable development, economic analysis, and governance programs.
• UN Women SkopjecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research on care economy, gender equality, and women's economic participation including studies on care systems transformation.
• Government of North MacedoniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for policy research, fiscal monitoring, and economic analysis.
• KOMPAS Partnership (MCGO, MLD, IDSCS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCivil monitoring consortium for tracking government promises 2024-2028, including Macedonian Center for Civic Education, Macedonian Medical Society, and Institute for Democracy Solidarity.
• WebEcon NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic research network covering Western Balkans for collaborative economic analysis.
• FISKAST NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFiscal data network providing fiscal transparency data and analysis for the region.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD): UK-supported democracy assistance organization running governance programs in the Western Balkans. Comparable in donor profile and democracy/governance mandate, with growing overlap on civic monitoring and parliamentary support work.

Regional players

• Albanian Center for Economic Research (ACER): Albanian economic think tank producing applied economic research, fiscal analysis, and policy recommendations. Comparable operating model and Western Balkan donor base, with geographic rather than direct overlap.
• Group for Legal and Political Studies (GLPS): Tirana-based regional think tank working on Western Balkans policy and rule of law. Comparable in scale, methodology, and donor mix though operating from Albania rather than North Macedonia.

Others

• International Budget Partnership (IBP): Global organization promoting transparent and accountable public finance. Current strategic partner of Finance Think on budget transparency and a structural peer across the fiscal-transparency research niche.
• Western Balkans Fund: Regional funding mechanism supporting regional cooperation projects in the Western Balkans. Operates as both a peer funder and a potential partner for Finance Think's regional network initiatives.
• Open Society Foundations – Western Balkans: Major donor to Finance Think and supporter of civil society and economic governance across the region. Functions as an ecosystem stakeholder that shapes the funding landscape the institute operates in.

Broad incumbents

• Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (wiiw): Established European research institute covering Central, East and Southeast Europe with economic analysis, forecasts, and policy advice. A larger incumbent that competes for the same donor attention and citation share on Western Balkan economic policy.

Direct peers

• Institute for Democracy "Societas Civilis" (IDSCS): North Macedonia think tank working on democracy, EU accession, and rule of law. Co-partner with Finance Think in the KOMPAS civic monitoring consortium, indicating close methodological and tactical alignment.
• European Policy Institute (EPI) – Skopje: Skopje-based independent policy research institute covering EU integration, governance, and economic policy in North Macedonia. Closest direct peer given overlapping mandate, geography, and donor ecosystem.
• Center for Economic Analyses (CEA): Macedonian economic policy think tank focused on macroeconomic analysis, fiscal policy, and labor market research. Directly comparable in subject matter, regional focus, and donor-supported operating model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FinanceThinkMk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCD6gRM3OLdcWAym_X2OYkNw
• Facebookfacebook.com/FinanceThink
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/finance-think
• Instagraminstagram.com/financethink

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Finance Think