Risks of Populism and Politicised Economic Decisions Will Increase Next Year

November 28, 2017

Recently the World Bank published its annual report Doing Business 2018 that measures regulations that enhance/constrain business activity and characterises the state of a country's economy. This year, Ukraine has improved its standing by 4 points, and jumped to the 76th place from the 80th.

However, even if the country manages to make a strong leap moving several steps up in the ranking, this does not guarantee the immediate inflow of foreign investment. Investors do not simply have to see the country in the hypothetical Top-30, they have to carefully consider their decision whether to invest in this country or not.

It is good that there are certain improvements, but by no means we should overemphasise them, or make some conclusions on their basis. Ukraine still remains a country in a low position, and is lagging far behind even Central and East European countries, with which it could potentially compete.

Next year, there is a growing risk of populism and politicised economic decisions, redistribution of property in favour of "inside" partners, including, for the purpose of securing the flow of funds in the upcoming elections.


Vasyl Yurchyshyn

Director, Economic Programmes


Born in 1955 in Kamyanets-Podilskyi.

Education:

T. Shevchenko Kyiv State University, Department of Cybernetics (1977).

Institute of Public Administration and Local Government at the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine (1994).

Professor in Public Administration. Author of nearly 100 scientific works.

Employment:

In 1977–1993, worked at the Kyiv University as an engineer, research fellow and senior research fellow;

1994–1999 — head economic researcher at the International Centre for Policy Studies, Fund for Banking and Finance Development;

1999–2004 — Assistant Professor, Department of Economic Policy of the Ukrainian (currently, National) Academy of Public Administration, office of the President of Ukraine;

1999–2004 — Research Director at the Agency of Humanitarian Technologies, later — Agency for Social Analysis;

2002–2003 — advisor to the Minister of Economy of Ukraine;

since April, 2004 — Professor, Department of Economic Policy of the National Academy of Public Administration, office of the President of Ukraine;

since June, 2005 — Economic Programmes Director at Razumkov Centre.

(044) 201-11-90

yurchyshyn@razumkov.org.ua