Mićo Mrkaić: Economic risk has to be minimized
On Thursday 23 December, Prime Minister Janez Janša appointed the Strategic Council for Economic Development, which will be headed by economist Dr. Mićo Mrkaić. At the last parliamentary session the council made a decision to propose that the Government delay the implementation of tax reforms.
Why did you propose the delay of the reforms?
We proposed delaying the reforms in order to minimize economic risk, mainly owing to changes to the euro. We are aware that there are other risks in this environment, not just economic ones, and that a course has to be steered through them.
What will the committee’s main tasks be?
We will submit opinions and proposals on macroeconomic policy to the Prime Minister, ensure a favourable environment for business and the global competitiveness of the Slovene economy, the development of issues connected with the quality of education and science, and especially with the liberalization of the educational system; we will continue to give advice on development issues connected with the labour market and capital, and with the withdrawal of the state from business.
There has been quite a lot of criticism to the formation of your council by the opposition, especially owing to your publicly expressed doubts about the financing of public functions and economic positions which are supposedly not close to social democratic policies.
I am a committed advocate of the neoliberal economic approach and the values which I became familiar with during my years of studying and living in the United States, i.e. market economies, privatisation, decentralization and the withdrawal of the state from business.
How will your council be different from previous councils?
It will differ in its composition, work methods and operativity. In the past the Strategic Council was a sort of semi-annual academic conference of economists and professors; the new council will be a combination of economists of all generations from business circles, and plans to meet once a month. It will provide consultancy services for the Ministry of Economics, and its main priorities will be lowering inflation and increasing economic growth.
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