Egypt, China sign deal to build level-3 biosafety lab    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt backs Palestinian unity, calls for ceasefire, aid access    EGX ends week in green on July 10    Egyptian pound strengthens against US dollar on July 10    Egypt, China central banks sign pacts to boost yuan use, payment systems    Egypt's EDA, Haleon discuss local market support    Environment ministry signs agreement to strengthen marine protection, promote ecotourism    Egypt, WHO discuss expanding health cooperation, development initiatives    Service restoration underway after Cairo telecom fire, minister tells PM    Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrives in Egypt for high-level talks    Gaza under siege, fire: Resistance intensifies amid deepening humanitarian collapse    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, Pakistan boost healthcare ties – Cabinet    UK, Egypt strengthen cooperation on green transition, eco-tourism, and environmental investments    Escalation in Gaza as ceasefire talks remain fragile amid mounting humanitarian crisis    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Egypt's PM, Uruguay's president discuss Gaza, trade at BRICS summit    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger        Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



We need a balanced economic development
Published in Ahram Online on 26 - 09 - 2017

As the summer and holiday season draws to a close, the annual investment season begins: economic conferences, government visits, delegations of investors and analysts from around the world. This year is no different, though there is increased interest in in Egypt as a result of its economic reform program started late last year and still ongoing.
This program —including the floating of the pound, the Introduction of a VAT, the increase in energy prices, and the IMF deal—resulted in improved macroeconomic indicators, as demonstrated by the stable exchange rate, increased Central Bank reserves, and higher growth rates.
But those same economic decisions have also resulted in steep price hikes, a larger domestic and foreign debt, and higher domestic financing costs. This is all while unemployment remains high and public services continue to deteriorate. Thus what the government sees as economic reform looks to most Egyptians like a declining standard of living and an inability to make ends meet, even after the latest boosts to cash subsidies and pensions.
I don't think the government is unaware of this, but it views these widely hated measures as necessary for the public interest, necessary steps that had to be taken. It is also, in my opinion, betting on the fact that they will spur higher growth as the new gas fields in the Mediterranean come on line, tourism gradually returns, investment increases, and Egypt continues to receive international backing for its counterterrorism efforts. This will be enough, the government believes, to turn the national economy around and improve citizens' lives.
Personally I think the government was right that its measures were necessary to avoid economic collapse. But even if all their projected benefits come to pass, economic growth alone will not be enough to ensure the economic and social development needed to improve citizens' standard of living. It must be paired with policies and programs designed to social ensure more justice.
This isn't a call to step back from recent decisions or to accept the profound structural flaws in state finances which threaten the future of the country. It is rather a call to find a sound balance between policies that bring rapid economic growth and those that ensure social security and a dignified life for the citizenry.
In practical terms, this means that employment must be the chief pillar in the state's economic program. A job is the most effective form of social security, the right of every citizen, the source of sustainable development, and the basis of genuine stability. It's hard to speak of impending stability and prosperity given current unemployment rates, especially youth unemployment which stands at nearly 40 percent.
Moreover, there may be no choice but to increase tax revenue in order to enable spending on public services and infrastructure. But with all due respect to the efforts of the Finance Ministry and the Tax Authority to improve collection rates, the magnitude of the financing gap requires more effective measures to combat tax evasion. It also requires tax increases that shield low-income groups, perhaps a higher income tax rate on top earners, a higher property tax, and limits to excessive exemptions.
Finally, equitable development requires a reconsideration of public spending priorities, especially when it comes to megaprojects. I have no objection in principle to spending on infrastructure to increase demand, create jobs, and stimulate the economy. But we must consider such standards when selecting new projects to fund, especially when this means foregoing spending on existing infrastructure and services which can provide better living conditions for the majority of citizens.
So I welcome delegations coming to Egypt in search of investment opportunities, and it certainly pleases me to see the kind of growth we've missed for many years now. But let us remember that the real standard of success for economic policy is the security and stability it generates for citizens, not the accolades and distinctions granted by international analysts. And let us learn from other countries and our own past experience that the gap between improved macroeconomic indicators and declining living standards is what most threatens a country's stability and social peace.


Clic here to read the story from its source.