Armenia's Economic Pulse

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

WAVE OF CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS TARGETS ARMENIAN STATE AGENCIES
by: Lilit Gevorgyan

Global Insight
October 11, 2012

A series of corruption probes into the health, construction and social
security ministries and state agencies have been carried out in recent
weeks in Armenia. The findings prompted Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian
to express his concerns at a cabinet meeting on 10 October.

Sargsyan said that a number of high-ranking officials have been
fired as a result of the findings, and added that from now on, the
heads of failing agencies will be held personally responsible for
proven incidents of corruption and bribe taking. The move follows the
high-profile arrest in September of Vazgen Khachikyan, who managed the
State Social Security Service (SSSS) until December 2010. The State
Prosecutor's Office has found the allegations of large-scale abuse of
the social benefit payments strong enough to launch an investigation.

As a result, 29 people have been arrested and 12 of them have received
prison sentences.

Significance:Corruption remains a serious operational issue when it
comes to doing business in Armenia, with a strong negative impact on
the South Caucasian republic's sparse state resources. Successive
governments have pledged to root the problem out but thus far have
failed. The recent surge in efforts to confront the problem comes
against the backdrop of a growing social discontent ahead of the
crucial presidential elections. Although small, Armenian opposition
parties are also vocal in the parliament, elected in May 2012. While
Sarkisian's efforts are positive, he still needs to convince voters
that this surge in anti-corruption activities is not linked to the
upcoming election and that momentum will be maintained after the vote
if the current government stays in power.

[davidoga]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

@Haykakan, best news I've heard in a while.

Husank vor da tevum e.

[Mos]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

WAVE OF CORRUPTION INVESTIGATIONS TARGETS ARMENIAN STATE AGENCIES
by: Lilit Gevorgyan

Global Insight
October 11, 2012

A series of corruption probes into the health, construction and social
security ministries and state agencies have been carried out in recent
weeks in Armenia. The findings prompted Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian
to express his concerns at a cabinet meeting on 10 October.

Sargsyan said that a number of high-ranking officials have been
fired as a result of the findings, and added that from now on, the
heads of failing agencies will be held personally responsible for
proven incidents of corruption and bribe taking. The move follows the
high-profile arrest in September of Vazgen Khachikyan, who managed the
State Social Security Service (SSSS) until December 2010. The State
Prosecutor's Office has found the allegations of large-scale abuse of
the social benefit payments strong enough to launch an investigation.

As a result, 29 people have been arrested and 12 of them have received
prison sentences.

Significance:Corruption remains a serious operational issue when it
comes to doing business in Armenia, with a strong negative impact on
the South Caucasian republic's sparse state resources. Successive
governments have pledged to root the problem out but thus far have
failed. The recent surge in efforts to confront the problem comes
against the backdrop of a growing social discontent ahead of the
crucial presidential elections. Although small, Armenian opposition
parties are also vocal in the parliament, elected in May 2012. While
Sarkisian's efforts are positive, he still needs to convince voters
that this surge in anti-corruption activities is not linked to the
upcoming election and that momentum will be maintained after the vote
if the current government stays in power.

government has been getting tougher on corruption. let's hope they follow through. corruption can really hamper outside investment which is crucial for Armenia. We need to build a friendly environment for business and investments. Lessen burden of bureaucracy in order to make all such things more possible. The heavy corruption in bureaucracy is just relic of the Soviet Times. In the Communist system everything was bureaucracy and corruption was tremendously high.

[davidoga]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

@Haykakan, can you please provide a link for the article. I can't seem to find it....

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

Corruption is hardly just a soviet legacy. The kind of corruption that happens in USA today with special interests and super pacs makes soviet era corruption look like childs play.

government has been getting tougher on corruption. let's hope they follow through. corruption can really hamper outside investment which is crucial for Armenia. We need to build a friendly environment for business and investments. Lessen burden of bureaucracy in order to make all such things more possible. The heavy corruption in bureaucracy is just relic of the Soviet Times. In the Communist system everything was bureaucracy and corruption was tremendously high.

[Mos]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

Corruption is hardly just a soviet legacy. The kind of corruption that happens in USA today with special interests and super pacs makes soviet era corruption look like childs play.

Well, corruption was widely spread in the Soviet Time. It created a culture of corruption (to get anything done in bureaucracy, you need to bribe). This was the main mindset among people. Not saying US doesn't have corruption either. Though I'd say Soviet Corruption was worse than corruption in US.

[Artashes]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

Well, corruption was widely spread in the Soviet Time. It created a culture of corruption (to get anything done in bureaucracy, you need to bribe). This was the main mindset among people. Not saying US doesn't have corruption either. Though I'd say Soviet Corruption was worse than corruption in US.

Corruption Russian style is different than corruption American style.
Russian style is apparent to the ordinary citizens daily life,while American style is virtually non apparent.
Russians are more blatant as opposed to the more sophisticated American approach.
In actual dollars nobody comes even close to the corruption of the USA.
Corruption is corruption whether it is seen or not.
Corruption in Armenia causes financial(unnecessary)hardship for its citizens as well as stifling them.
Corruption as a mindset is even worse (in my opinion).
Artashes

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

No it was not worst. The fact that it was wide spread among the people meant that people could still get what they want if they got the money. It is the same thing here in the USA except most people cant afford to bribe thus they have no voice at all. Like many other things in life you misunderstand this issue as well. The average person in the USA may feel like he/she has a voice but this is simply an illusion. While people in the soviet days could get what they needed via bribes it is only the very rich that have such a privilage in USA. Perhaps you have learned that money does not grow on trees in America but it seems you have yet much more to learn be it about economics or human values or womens rights or ... dude you need to go get a good education.

Well, corruption was widely spread in the Soviet Time. It created a culture of corruption (to get anything done in bureaucracy, you need to bribe). This was the main mindset among people. Not saying US doesn't have corruption either. Though I'd say Soviet Corruption was worse than corruption in US.

[Mos]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

Corruption Russian style is different than corruption American style.
Russian style is apparent to the ordinary citizens daily life,while American style is virtually non apparent.
Russians are more blatant as opposed to the more sophisticated American approach.
In actual dollars nobody comes even close to the corruption of the USA.
Corruption is corruption whether it is seen or not.
Corruption in Armenia causes financial(unnecessary)hardship for its citizens as well as stifling them.
Corruption as a mindset is even worse (in my opinion).
Artashes

American Corruption is done via special interest groups and big business that give money to politicians to get what they want. Russian corruption has that element but also has the element of corruption in the bureaucracy.

No it was not worst. The fact that it was wide spread among the people meant that people could still get what they want if they got the money. It is the same thing here in the USA except most people cant afford to bribe thus they have no voice at all. Like many other things in life you misunderstand this issue as well. The average person in the USA may feel like he/she has a voice but this is simply an illusion. While people in the soviet days could get what they needed via bribes it is only the very rich that have such a privilage in USA. Perhaps you have learned that money does not grow on trees in America but it seems you have yet much more to learn be it about economics or human values or womens rights or ... dude you need to go get a good education.

Well there really isn't much corruption in terms of bureaucratic matters in the US. Most of the corruption stems from the special interest groups that influence politicians and policy matters. In the Soviet Union, you had a similar oligarch class. Don't fool yourself. You couldn't just give money and become an oligarch. Though for every step in the bureaucracy you needed to give a bribe. Just ask somebody what you had to do to make paper copies - all the permissions you had to get. And what you mean by only the rich having privileges? Sure the rich have more power, but that's obvious. And stick to discussions, your personal accusations are unneeded, and quite annoying and childish to be frank.

[Haykakan]

Re: Armenia's Economic Pulse

I am neither being childish nor annoying by pointing out the fact that you do not understand a lot of things. Corruption in USA is institutionalized and it continues to grow not just in the government but the education system also. Corruption during soviet days was a part of everyday life so everybody knew what was going on and what to do.. In USA normal people only get the bill and suffer the consequences without ever even knowing what for. Corruption in America is on a much larger scale and involves way more money then any corruption ever witnessed in the history of the human race. I was at the NAACP annual dinner last night and people were saying how much they value freedom yet they encouraged people to vote for Obama despite the fact that he is trying to take away civil rights. This is the big difference between soviet and usa - people in soviet union knew they were getting screwed and they knew who was screwing them and why and what it was costing them vs in today's usa people dont have a clue and will even make a hero out of the guy that screws them the hardest. Sad really if you think about it but that is humanity for ya-its a lot easier to get screwed then to think. Do not get offended because you are ignorent of some things since we all are-the real question is what are u going to do about your ignorence.

American Corruption is done via special interest groups and big business that give money to politicians to get what they want. Russian corruption has that element but also has the element of corruption in the bureaucracy.



Well there really isn't much corruption in terms of bureaucratic matters in the US. Most of the corruption stems from the special interest groups that influence politicians and policy matters. In the Soviet Union, you had a similar oligarch class. Don't fool yourself. You couldn't just give money and become an oligarch. Though for every step in the bureaucracy you needed to give a bribe. Just ask somebody what you had to do to make paper copies - all the permissions you had to get. And what you mean by only the rich having privileges? Sure the rich have more power, but that's obvious. And stick to discussions, your personal accusations are unneeded, and quite annoying and childish to be frank.