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Economic and Policy Making Challenges during the European economic crisis Hungarian Presidency of the Central European Initiative Budapest meeting - May 24 th , 2013 Razvan Orasanu , Research Director Former Privatization Minister and Romanian PM Advisor *
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Economic and Policy Making Challenges during the European economic crisis • Hungarian Presidency of the Central European Initiative • Budapestmeeting - May 24th, 2013 • Razvan Orasanu, ResearchDirector • Former PrivatizationMinister and Romanian PM Advisor * • * Acknowledgement to Fiscal Council PresidentIonut Dumitru
High growth… Economic growth (% yoy, annual average, 2001-2008) Source: EUROSTAT
The economic crisis – big picture Source: EUROSTAT
Banking – where it all started… External debt by institutional sector (% of GDP) Source: NBR
Capital flows Contributions to potential GDP growth in Romania (%) • the high potential GDP growth in the pre-crisis period was driven mainly by large capital inflows. • The contribution of capital and TFP is expected to be much lower after the crisis; • The contribution of labour should increase. Source: European Commission
Growth Fuelled by FDI Source: NBR
Foreign Capital stops, IMF / EU step in CA deficit and development of capital inflows External funding gap • Jan-Jun 2012 • Funding gap= CA deficit+net private capital inflows • Source: NBR
Crisis impact on demographics • An increase in employment rate is highly needed also to offset partially the negative impact of demographics. Support ratio (Number of contributors/pensioners, %) Source: European Commission, 2012 Ageing report
Current account –problem for Romania Note: data cumulated over the last four quarters Source: EUROSTAT
Response 1 : Lower foreign inflows Source: EUROSTAT
Response 2 – Non performing loans NPL ratio (%) FCY loans in total loans (%) • NBR introduced in 2003-2008 tight administrative and prudential regulations to curb lending growth (especially in FCY for unhedged borrowers), but the impact was short-lived – loans started to be originated directly from abroad or exported abroad. Source: IMF
Response 3 – Higher Savings Rate Saving rate (% of GDP) Source: EUROSTAT
Response 4 - salary rises, then cuts Development of public sector wages and social benefits Source: Ministry of Finance, European Commission
Response 5 – Exports diversified Exports of goods by destinations - change between 2000 and 2011 (in pp of GDP) • Increased focus on extra-EU exports Source: EUROSTAT
Solution 2 : Reduce shadow economy Share of shadow economy in GDP in EU-27 countries Source: Schneider, F. (2012), "Size and development of the Shadow Economy from 2003 to 2012: some new facts”
Solution 3 :Tax administration reform • Legal tax wedge on labour is high in Romania, but implicit taxation is relatively low. Legal tax wedge vs implicit taxation on labour (SSC and personal income tax) Source: EUROSTAT
Solution 4 – Wage control essential Unit labour costs growth (%, annual average) • ensure wage growth never exceed productivity growth –increase labour market flexibility Source: EUROSTAT
Solution 5 : Exporting away trouble Export to GDP ratio (%) Source: EUROSTAT
Solution 6 – Gvt Asset Management Structure set up in 1949 • Landlord for all buildings • Purchasing agent for gvt • Asset Management • One potential pitfall
Solution 7 – Productivity Growth Employment rate (20-64 years) Labour productivity growth and productivity level • Romania has one of the lowest employment rates in EU; • Increase effective retirement age; education reform and lifelong learning; stimulate re-skilling and job search; re-attract Romanians working abroad. • Increase efficiency of public administration (including through introduction of e-government). Source: EUROSTAT
Solution 8 – Pensions crisis on agenda • Awareness building exercise Romanian Academic Society • Forcing the issue on the agenda of 2014 • Moving out of pay-as-you go • 20 year top-up financing ring-fenced every year
Solution 9 – Coherent privatization • Inventory/ valuation of property • Yearly privatization calendar • Roadshow for all companies • Predictability in selling • MAV vs CFR Marfa
Solution 10 – Innovation in gvt design • Central Policy Units essential for institutions • Flow of documents improved • Delivery targets and service level agreements • Performance budgeting (and project budgeting) • Independent anti-corruption departments • Revisions to the legislation (600-2.600 Off.M) • BEST – Evidence based policy making
Thank you ! RazvanOrasanu Romanian Academic Society 004(0)740303073 orasanu@hotmail.com orasanu@sar.org.ro