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While the CR experienced a noticeable increase in unemployment after 2008 (see Graph 1), in absolute numbers this was in no way a massive increase. The same situation was observable in the case of the national budget deficit. While in 2008 the government spent over 86 billion CZK (2.2% of GDP) more than it took in, in 2009 this rose to 218 billion, and in 2010, 179 billion CZK. The situation calmed down by 2013, when the Czech national deficit returned to pre-crisis levels. However, these numbers are no cause for alarm considering the overall debt of the country. Government debt amounted to about 29% of GDP in 2008, 46% in 2013 and 43% in 2014. The country is thus still a long way away from approaching the 60% threshold that EU fiscal regulations consider the warning zone.

Graph 1: Unemployment in the CR, 2008-2014

Source: Czech Statistical Office

In sum, it can be said that while a noted rise in unemployment and a visible (though not devastating) fall in economic performance occurred, the CR [52] emerged from the crisis relatively unscathed if we compare it to countries in Western – and certainly Southern – Europe. Despite the low impact of the crisis on the CR, which, at least when looking at economic data, cannot be seen as catastrophic, significant changes in Czechs' identification with the EU, as well as in the party system, have occurred, driven by the Eurosceptic discourse of the Czech President.