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IME Annual Report 2002
IME Annual Report 2003
IME Annual Report 2004
IME Annual Report 2005
IME in 2005 General information IME is the fist and oldest independent economic policy think tank in Bulgaria. Its mission is to elaborate and advocate market-based solutions to challenges citizens of Bulgaria and the region face in reforms. This mission has been pursued sine early 1993 when the Institute was formally registered a non-profit legal entity (Registration # is: Reg. #831344929 - March 15th, 1993, 729/XI/VI, p. 169.) IME objectives are to provide: independent assessment and analysis of the government's economic policies; a focal point for an exchange of views on market economics and relevant policy issues; and an internationally supported Bulgarian think thank which is widely respected for its expertise.
2004 - 2005 Priorities - Monitoring Economic Policies, Cost Benefit Analysis of Regulations - Free Movement of Capital, Goods and People - Advocacy for Lower and Flatter Taxes (income, corporate and social welfare contributions - Shadow and Informal Economy: Impacts and Policy Recommendations - Public Education in Market Economics and Economic Liberty - Market Reforms in the Financial Sector
Special attention - European Union Accession and Integration - Pension, Healthcare and Education Reform - Administrative and Regulatory Reforms, Efficiency and Private Provision of Public Services - Internet Provision of Economic Knowledge via EASI - Reforms in the Balkans and Beyond - Competitiveness - Improving Environmental Quality Through Markets
Background Priorities of IME activities changed over years, following the challenges citizens and businesses encounter at the wake of reform. E.g. in 1993-1994 we focused of information disclosure and anti-fraud policies due to proliferation of pyramid schemes; then, at the eve of hyperinflation crisis of 1996-1997 IME launched the first electronic newsletter with information of debt management and macro-economic developments; and after the stabilization of 1997 we re-addressed our attention to sectoral, developmental and business environment issues. IME's modus operandi is the following: the staff assess economic and reform trends and with the help of the board and the advisory board outlines priorities, which are to established by the board for a two year period. (The board meets four times a year; the executive director runs and represents the institute.) IME annual average turnover for the last four years has been, approximately EURO 240 thousand (plus 100 thousand in-kind contributions); of this 10% is private donation, 60% - revenue from services and the rest – institutional (ear-marked) grants. Service revenues are usually channelled to finance IME public policy initiatives. There is hardly an important reform issue in the last twelve years that was left without attention by IME. It was awarded 2001 Special Prize of the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria for "its overall contribution to the development of the civil society". IME gave birth or indirectly supported the emergence of other non-profit and for-profit organizations, e.g. Access to Information Programme (1996), Economic Policy Institute (1997), and Industry Watch (2003) and become a founder or a member of numerous international organizations.
IME Advocacy In a coalition or alone IME contributed to the following: • Information Disclosure and Anti-Fraud Provisions in Securities Regulations (drafted by IME and US SEC) – 1993-1995; • Introduction of the Currency Board (advocacy and public awareness campaign) – 1996-1997; • Deposit Guarantee Act (drafted by IME), 1997-1998 • Tax Reforms in 1997 and 1998 (advocacy and cost-benefit comparisons) • 1998 SME's Strategy (drafting sections on equal opportunities, competitiveness, fair government practices, low transaction costs); • Competition Defence Act (three provisions ensuring better implementation), 1998 • 1998 Reduction and Applicability of VAT and Social-welfare Taxation (drafted by IME) • Draft Mortgage Bonds Act (drafted by IME), adopted 2000; • L aw on Reducing Administrative Regulation and Administrative Control over Economic Activity, (drafted by IME, in cooperation with Bannock Consulting and UNILOB), adopted 2003; • Special Purpose Investment Vehicles Act (promoted by IME and adopted in 2003); • Establishment of the Central East European Mortgage Financing Network (2003); • Accountability and RIA Training and Methodologies for Kyrgyz Republic (2003); • Reform of the Business Registration in Bosnia and Herzegovina (in cooperation with Bannock Consulting and UNILOB, 2002-2004); • Regulation Impact Analysis, Legislative Corrections Studies and Corruption as a Systemic Phenomenon (grafting respective chapters for the New Normative Acts Bill), 1999 –2004; • Establishment of Experian-Scorex Bulgarian Credit Bureau (2004) • Establishment of Work First Europe (2004), www.workfirsteurope.com • Cost Benefit and Regulation Impact Analysis” - draft government decree for the incumbent cabinet (2005); • Instructions to All Administrative Bodies and a Handbook on How to Apply and Use the Law on Reducing Administrative Regulation and Administrative Control over Economic Activity (2005); • Comments on Government's Administrative Reform Strategy (2005); • Comments on Government's Transport Development Strategy (2005).
IME is member of : The Balkan Network (a founder) - www.balkannetwork.org , the International Centre for Economic Growth (ICEG) - www.iceg.org ; Network , Economic Freedom of the World Network (a founder) - www.freetheworld.com and a co-publisher of the Index of Economic Freedom of the World, the Network of Institutes and Schools of Public Administration in Central and Eastern Europe (NISPAcee) - www.nispa.sk , the Resource Bank Europe (founder) – www.rbeurope.org and of other international organizations, and Central East European Mortgage Financing Network (founder) - www.ceemortgagefinace.org .
IME has Pioneered Research Responding to the need to maintain market orientation of the reforms and develop argument to support this orientation, IME was the first Bulgaria institution to research and publish on: • Bulgarian Business Associations and Their Services (1993-1995) • Transparency of Capital Markets (1993-1995, 1998) • Barriers to Growth in the Balkans (1995-1997, in cooperation with the Balkan Network) • Private Sector Transaction Costs (1996, 1999-2001) • Informal Employment (1996-1997) • Informal Credit Markets in Poor Regions (1995,1998-1999) • Public Procurement Impacts on State Enterprise (1997) • Creation of Competitive Clusters (1996-1998, 2000-2001) • Regulation Impact Analysis of bills in pipeline (1999-2004, ongoing) • Border Crossing Procedures and Transport Costs (1996-1997) • Bi-monthly Monitoring of the Business Environment (1999-2003) • Refugee Impacts on Host Country (1999-2000) • Mortgage Financing and Mortgage Bonds Act (1998-2000) • Weekly Reviews of Economic Policy (2000-2004, ongoing, 80% reprinting rate in the national press) • Policies to Reduce Administrative Regulations of Economic Activities with FIAS (1999-2000) and Bannock Consulting (2000-2001) • Competitiveness of the Bulgarian Economy (sector surveys including finance 2000-2001) • Informal Economy of Bulgaria (2000-2001, in cooperation with AECD and Harvard University, and 2003-2004 in cooperation with WIIW, LSE and ELIAMEP) • Policy Analysis and Organizing Platform for Discussion of P riority Issues in Improving SEE Mortgage Finance – www.ceemortgagefinance.org (2003 - ongoing) • Internet Provision of Economic Knowledge in Bulgarian via Economics Access Station on Internet - www.easibulgaria.org (2001, ongoing); • Credit Information Bureau Feasibility Study (2002-2004); • Informal and Bank Credit in Sofia Residential Construction (2004); • Regional Labour Migration (2004-2005); • Establishing an Internet Navigation and Tool for Regulation Impact Analysis – www.ria-studies.net (2005). • Factors and Impacts in the Information Society: A Prospective Analysis in Bulgaria (2003 -2005 ). • Informal Construction Credit In Sofia” and “Real Estate Market Potential in Golden Sands and Sunny Beach” (2004-2005) – restricted distribution
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