The Transformation of Georgia from 2004 to 2012: State Building, Reforms, Growth and Investments

Description

How can developing countries become high-income nations? What are the reference points for measuring national development, public leadership and government performance? What is the nexus between public policies and geopolitical, political, emotional, historical, national governance-related, social and cultural norms, forces and factors which shape the process of the state building? This second edition of the book elaborates on many of these critical interconnections, focusing on 9 years after Georgia's Revolution of Roses in November 2003. The book explains what can be accomplished in two electoral terms at a given starting level of GDP per capita and which pitfalls to avoid. It contributes to documenting an almost decade-long history of Georgia. Contents List of Figures List of Tables 1 Reforms, State Building and the Legacy 2 The Soviet Union—The Twilight 3 1991–2003: Early Post-soviet Transition and the Revolution of Roses 4 Georgia’s J-Curve. How to Rebound? 5 Russia 6 Public Leadership 7 The Ten Commandments of State Building 8 National Governance 9 Size and Effectiveness of a Government 10 Structure of a Public Expenditure 11 Market-Based Approach in Agriculture and Healthcare Agriculture Healthcare 12 Pensions and Public Sector Salaries Pensions Public Sector Salaries 13 Public Debt, Capital Markets and International Assistance Public Debt Management in Georgia in 2004–2012—Outcomes, Risks and Trade-Offs Access to International Capital Markets International Assistance 14 Wealth Generation, Taxes, Customs, Trade and Logistics Who Creates Wealth? Tax Reform—More Than a Reduction in Taxes Customs, Trade and Transportation 15 De-regulation, Privatization, Public Services and Competition 16 Banking 17 Territorial Development and Urbanization Principle 1: Predictive, Adaptive and Bold Territorial Development Principle 2: Livability of Tbilisi Harness Uniqueness Create Landmarks Address Over-Congestion Principle 3: Mitigation of Tbilisi’s Over-Dominance Example of Batumi Example of Kutaisi Principle 4: Coastal Development, Lazika 18 Dollarization: A Thought Framework 19 Parliamentary Elections in 2012 20 The Margin of Error Bibliography Index