Hungarian culture Before I talk about Hungarian culture I would like to present you some relevant information about this country. Firstly, the Hungarian territory consists mostly of plains and hills. The population of Hungary totals 9 773 000. With a population of 1.7 million inhabitants, Budapest has the role of economic and political centre of the country. Secondly, Hungary has a birth rate of 9.1‰, and a slightly higher death rate, at 13‰ (2012). The age distribution of the population is: 15.6 % are 14 years old or younger, 69.2 % are between the ages of 15 to 64 and 15.2% are 65 or older. Lastly, Unemployment is around 10% and competition for a job remains high. In Hungary, 81% of adults aged 25-64 are the possessors of an equivalent of a high-school degree. Hungary welcomes international business opportunities. In business, Hungarians consider personal relationships crucial. Face-to-face discussion is absolutely essential in business matters and a solid relationship relies on repeated visits and phone calls. Hungary is an individualistic society. Meaning that there is a preference for loosely-knit social frameworks in which individuals are expected to only take care of themselves and their immediate families only. Hungary has a low power distance. Power is dispersed and managers count on the experience of their team members to meet goals. Employees expect to be consulted. Control is disliked and attitudes towards managers are informal and on first name basis. Communication is direct and participative. In their business dealings, Hungarians tend to be formal, adhering to hierarchical organizational structures, also generally outspoken and for this reason some foreigners may perceive them as abrupt or rude even. They are also tend to be direct communicators. They will freely express their opinion or disagreement. Hungarians generally keep over an arm’s length of personal space. The distance may be greater when speaking with strangers. Hungarians tend to hold direct eye contact. Making eye contact is thought to be a sign of sincerity while refusing to make eye contact is often considered a sign of dishonesty. Hungarians tend to be detail-oriented and will want to understand everything before reaching an agreement. Company structures tend to be hierarchical, with decisions and ideas generated from the top, this will slow down decision making. Meetings can last for different periods of time, depending on partners’ attitudes and on the nature of the sector. Negotiating with the public sector usually takes longer than with the private sector. In business meetings, Hungarians prefer traditional elegance. Cleanliness and tidiness are an absolute necessity. Any formal business clothes are acceptable, with dark colours being preferred during the winter and lighter ones in summer. The first meeting is always characterized by a reserved attitude but, once the ice is broken, Hungarians are rather passionate and their verbal exchanges can be very intense. Punctuality is extremely important when Hungarians meet foreigners. If possible, try to arrive about ten minutes before your scheduled meeting time and allow for heavy traffic when travelling in a city, especially in Budapest.
