Friday 29 March 2024 | 11:51

Siarhei Balykin: Belarusan authorities are at the mercy of Soviet stereotypes

21.11.2012  |  Economy   |  Zmicier Kazlouski, EuroBelarus,  
Siarhei Balykin: Belarusan authorities are at the mercy of Soviet stereotypes

Mobilization of investors to Belarus is hampered by uncertainty, instability and unpredictability present in the political, economic and legal spheres of the country.

 This opinion was shared to the EuroBelarus Information Service by the lawyer and economist Siarhei Balykin.

First of all, it is absolutely unclear what will become of our country, what are the perspectives. Let’s say it openly that the existence of the Republic of Belarus, the existence of the current regime in Belarus is much connected with the figure of the Belarusan leader. And if we take stability, predictability and relevance, they depend only on whether this person is in power, is he alive, what is his state of health and so on”, - noted the expert.

According to him, not everything is well with our economics, too: “There are lots of problems in the monetary and credit sphere, in the relations between the subjects of management, problems with the nation status and manpower leaving abroad, the potential instability of the Belarusan ruble. And it is unclear when will all these problems come out”.

He also paid attention that the economic legislation in Belarus is unpredictable and changes constantly: “Most crucial is that it can change all of a sudden, and living conditions can worsen in several days to such a degree that in would be just impossible to work in some spheres. I believe everyone has already understood that. Remember struggling against brokers; remember all our re-registrations, a recent Decree on combating “one-day firms”.

It is this unpredictability and uncertainty that scares serious investors”, - believes Siarhei Balykin.

According to him, it is rather difficult to estimate time necessary to create suitable investable conditions in Belarus: “The adoption of the suitable legislation is the question of several months. The date when investors start believing us is the question of months or, perhaps, years. And the answer to the question whether we will actually have stabile and transparent political system is unknown”.

He assumes that in the first place the problem of creating conditions is of a political character, as “our leaders do not have political will to the reforms”.

In Siarhei Balykin’s judgment, history contains lots of examples when authoritarian political regimes achieved great success in economics: “Remember at least Chili during the Pinochet governing. There was effective economics and for all this repression of trade unions, communists and others took place”.

Similar examples are Northern Korea and Singapore that are heading towards democracy; countries, which during the times of the strong economic growth were notable for the authoritarianism of the political regime.

There are lots of such examples in the Southeastern Asia and in the Latin America. If we look back in history, then we will find such examples in Europe, too”, - noted Siarhei Balykin.

Why doesn’t Belarus keep to the beaten and quite well examined track?

First, because of the lack of education of the Belarusan authorities who are at the mercy of Soviet stereotypes. And these stereotypes are driven nearly into the spinal cord, - the expert assumes. – And secondly, the authorities understand that giving certain economic freedom, in the long run we should have political freedom as well. Finally, the development of the market economy inevitably leads to the democratic changes, either evolutional or revolutionary. The development of the capitalism has just brought to the development of the civil society, democracy and civil liberties”.

Other news section «Economy»

Leanid Zaika: Minsk decided to beat the Kremlin by Iranian oil
Leanid Zaika: Minsk decided to beat the Kremlin by Iranian oil
There are no strategic goals behind the purchase of Iranian oil, believes economist Leanid Zaika.
Stanislau Bagdankevich: The living standard will continue to fall in 2017, and possibly in 2018
Stanislau Bagdankevich: The living standard will continue to fall in 2017, and possibly in 2018
In 2017, Belarus will have to pay about $ 5 billion debts, which may affect the level of welfare negatively.
Leu Margolin: Industry cannot rise from its knees
Leu Margolin: Industry cannot rise from its knees
Although 30 percent of Belarusian enterprises can still be revived through urgent structural reforms.
Stanislau Bagdankevich: Next year will be harsh
Stanislau Bagdankevich: Next year will be harsh
Stagnation will continue in 2017, the standard of living will not rise, and the banking system may experience a crisis.
Andrei Yeliseyeu: Russia cannot impose quotas on the Belarusian dairy products supply
Andrei Yeliseyeu: Russia cannot impose quotas on the Belarusian dairy products supply
Belarus has already agreed to reduce the level of state support to agricultural producers in the framework of the Eurasian agreements.  
Leu Margolin: It is impossible to bring back the 500 dollars salary
Leu Margolin: It is impossible to bring back the 500 dollars salary
The authorities will start pressuring businesses to make them raise salaries.
Uladzimir Kavalkin: Drop in income? Salaries are finally becoming adequate to the economy state
Uladzimir Kavalkin: Drop in income? Salaries are finally becoming adequate to the economy state
Income may drop even a little bit more, but it will not be anything dramatic - within a few percent, expert believes.
Leu Marholin: In 2017, the probability of economic growth is close to zero
Leu Marholin: In 2017, the probability of economic growth is close to zero
In 2016, Belarusian authorities were expecting growth, too. However, the economy is going down.
EBRD will prepare five state companies for privatization
EBRD will prepare five state companies for privatization
The Belarusian government has invited the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to prepare five large state-owned companies for privatization.
 Leu Marholin: We are heading full speed to the new nineties
 Leu Marholin: We are heading full speed to the new nineties
Regression of the Belarusian economy combined with the inertness of the government will make us recall the worst years.  
Uladzimir Kavalkin: Statistics on unemployment and real unemployment are poles apart in Belarus
Uladzimir Kavalkin: Statistics on unemployment and real unemployment are poles apart in Belarus
Officially, the unemployment in our country is reducing – if judging by the number of registrations at the labor exchange; however, the number of jobs doesn’t increase in the economy.
Leanid Zaika: Decline in prices on gas should lead to the reduction in utility costs
Leanid Zaika: Decline in prices on gas should lead to the reduction in utility costs
In the situation of cheaper prices on gas Lukashenka's decree on non-cash housing subsidies looks weird.
Point of view: Defence industry in Belarus evolved from helpless to a weighty branch of economy
Point of view: Defence industry in Belarus evolved from helpless to a weighty branch of economy
Recently Belarus State Military Industrial Committee announced that in the first half of 2016 its enterprises earned a net profit of $80m, thus over-fulfilling the assigned export plans by a quarter.
Leu Marholin: It looks like the Belarusian PM has got a fortuneteller
Leu Marholin: It looks like the Belarusian PM has got a fortuneteller
The fall of the economy will continue in 2016; we should hardly expect growth in 2017.
Why with the success abroad, Belarus’ agriculture keeps failing at home?
Why with the success abroad, Belarus’ agriculture keeps failing at home?
Poor economic conditions in the countryside, restrictions, unfair competition, inefficiency of state-owned agricultural enterprises also contribute to this ‘success story’, writes Aliaksandr Filipau.
Viktar Marhelau: We killed consumer demand inside the country
Viktar Marhelau: We killed consumer demand inside the country
In the situation of everyone’s impoverishment administrative procedures are now being perceived painfully.
Opinion: The question of what role China can play in Belarusian development remains open
Opinion: The question of what role China can play in Belarusian development remains open
On 20 June Lukashenka met with vice-chair and president of the Chinese CITIC Group Corporation Wang Jiong; it seems especially important in light of Lukashenka’s planned visit to China in September.
Lukashenka: Only lazy people don
Lukashenka: Only lazy people don't earn well in Belarus
All the conditions for everyone to be able to earn a decent salary have been enabled in Belarus, however, it is necessary to make some effort to get the money, assumes the president.
Leanid Zlotnikau: The government knows what to do with the economy, but will do nothing
Leanid Zlotnikau: The government knows what to do with the economy, but will do nothing
Belarus is losing currency earnings – in the 6 months of 2016 the country earned 3 billion less than in the same period in 2015. Instead of removing the causes of the flop the state relies on magic.
Russia
Russia's Rosatom agreed to replace reactor vessel at Belarus NPP
State Corporation Rosatom has agreed to replace reactor vessel at the Astravets NPP in Belarus.
Gintautas Mažeikis: The relation of political field and arena in the framework of information war

In his report, philosopher Gintautas Mažeikis discusses several concepts that have been a part of the European social and philosophical thought for quite a time.

“It is our big joint work”

It is impossible to change life in cities just in three years (the timeline of the “Agenda 50” campaign implementation). But changing the structure of relationships in local communities is possible.

Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf

Minsk’s muddled media clampdown could jeopardize warming of relations with the West.

Mikhail Matskevich: How to create a local agenda and make it a problem solving tool

To achieve changes, you need to be interested in them and stop pinning all hopes on the state.