I will say it directly, without detours, because if the new Government will be about the economy, then we are also obliged to at least save words.

So I immediately watched the videos I found of the strength/stability tests, static and dynamic, that are being done on Braille’s large suspension bridge these days. I think there is no person who does not love or admire bridges [1], especially when they have such a hole, when they hang, they can, just on some strings. And those trucks full of eyes that followed the preset sensor well, people with precise movements that knew what they had to do… finally there was a safety message to create a scenario where it would come tomorrow and the day after , as unlikely as it is, you will see the foreman shrugging his shoulders – everything, we tried, but the wind blew stronger, we did not expect such a reaction, etc. And so on

I see the image of the tests on the bridge, then, I have nothing to do, I return to the topic of the day, and I hear about the ring road as an extraordinary historical manifestation of political stability, a historical burden of political responsibility, how a country is suspended on two invincible political pillars, how an economic bridge opens , in which every employed Romanian will walk away with at least 200 euros more in his pocket, etc. … I see and cannot help but be surprised: tests, where tests for strength, stability, static, dynamic?

A political work of art has, of course, its own specificity compared to engineering art. Here the principles enter the field of tolerance, political game. We do not immediately come from the side to check – “balance between stimulating the economy and social justice through solidarity (strengthening the middle class) and fairness (leaving no one behind)“. We don’t immediately pull out a technical dictionary when we understand what he’s going to say.”Productivity – we are developing production, investment and jobs here in Romania.” [2]

But when you get to the numbers, to the quantitative variables, it is necessary for the policy to turn to the sensors, to the data and indicators that the administration is full of (INS, ANAF, BNR, even the ION adviser is WE, we must have collected something in the last three months of training ) and ask whether it holds or not, if hesitating, how much deviation (read deficit) is acceptable?

Let’s say, the economic scaffolding calmly withstands another increase in the minimum wage. After all, there is a lack of people, the companies themselves raise wages, there is no need for the government to come and impose them. To have a business, to turn the wheel of the economy, so that they care, to attract good people. But even 30% fire? They did some tests, some calculations! Is that much growth possible in one year if you’re sure inflation will hit single digits anyway? It will really add so much value to the economy in the inter-election year we don’t know what it will be and at least not worse? And to remember what the strength of our still low-cost economy means, I invite you to a simple exercise – on the way to the ribbon cutting on the new bridge, ask about the “made in Romania” value added situation. in works of such technical complexity.

Of the 233 pages of the board’s prospectus, there was room for only one that has at least a suggestive title – “Where does the money come from??” The classic answer would be that if there is political will – the budget will increase (in parallel with the reduction of the deficit, nota bene!), all the money will be taken from the PNRR (by the way, the problem of special pensions has been solved once and for all: there is no government in the entire prospectus, it says only about retirement pensions) debt repayment will accelerate (which will be reduced by a third in a year), evasion will decrease (by 7 billion, i.e. almost twice what the head of ANAF estimated last year), investments will increase direct foreign investment (it will amount to 24 billion euros in 2023 and 2024, while the best year so far in 2008 saw a net FDI inflow of 9.2 billion). But, of all, I find this the most interesting: they will “Public-private partnership for at least 5 main investment objectives. Three billion euros can be obtained only from private pension funds in Romania, at the expense of real PPP projects“. The key word (French?) is, of course, “maybe”.

Speaking of the French: it is, of course, tempting to talk like them about economic sovereignty, patriotism to be who we were and more. But phrases alone do not work wonders. Even President Macron, in his hour-long mega-speech on re-industrialisation a month ago, felt the need to reassure aid that France now ranks well in terms of competitiveness, ranking first in Europe for attracting foreign investment for the fourth consecutive year, ranking 2- 3rd place in the creation of start-up companies, etc., that the country is doing well in terms of infrastructure, that it has a clear plan for reforms in the field of vocational schools, etc.

Among the big words, it is necessary to screw in such screws, sufficient to tie the language to reality.

The New Productivism and the 13th Goal

It is good not to forget about reality. Let’s not forget that the question “where does the money come from?” it has only one real answer – from today’s and tomorrow’s taxpayers. And until tomorrow’s ratepayers emerge from feasible projects, today’s ratepayers feel like vagabonds, tossed around by a storm of fiscal audits, procedures that change from day to day to hide the promise “we don’t touch value taxes.”

I would like to answer the fateful question “where does the money come from?” found above all – through radical changes to procedures that help taxpayers comply without hiding their business.

But somewhere around the 13th goal of fiscal and budget policy, on modernization, digitalization and reformation of ANAFwe can barely read”development of proposals to improve tax procedures and rules through the use of artificial intelligence tools that use data from tax administration, tax control and audits, assistance to taxpayers, appeals and court decisions“. I read and reread … improvement of procedures!

Dear governors, long gone are the days when perhaps improvement was enough. Ask the French patriots, do they only “improve” attract investments, fight for added value?

The simple fact that we are in a Europe that is preparing to settle financial policy on two pillars (one will be a global profit sharing algorithm, the other will be a minimum tax on global profits) – and this is without mentioning other geopolitical constraints – means that we are on at the 13th hour to radically rethink what competitiveness means. Now the battle has begun between who has better, more stable, more flexible and sustainable procedures, in short, between who offers a true partnership between the taxpayer and the administration! And, believe me, it has now started all over Europe productivity unprecedented, between the one who creates a more friendly state than the other.

As I said before, I would like to read more – we have a clear calendar of consultations with interested parties (taxpayers, tax consultants, etc.) to implement the best European practices in tax administration! As if it still sounds like a competitive factor to attract investors to real projects and such. As if this will give more peace to taxpayers, who now began to fear inspections and controls, as in an election year! – Read the whole article and comment on Contribuotrs.ro