2016 Will Be Tough, Reforms or No Reforms – Digest of Belarusian Economy
After several years of slow growth, 2015 became the first year of true recession. GDP fell by 3.9 per cent in January-November; employment declined over the year. The Belarusian rouble depreciated by almost 60 per cent.
Despite significant changes in the economic policy, 2016 will not be different. The official outlook (based on the oil price of $50) predicts zero growth, while the independent research centres expect modest decline. The recession is not deep enough to launch reforms quickly, and the positive effects from any possible reforms will come in only after 2016-2017.
The recession of 2015
The 2015 became the first recession year in Belarus after 20 years of economic growth. In January-November 2015 the GDP of Belarus declined by 3.9 per cent. Manufacturing and construction took the hardest hits.
As the Russian economy tumbled down, and the depreciation of the Russian rouble went faster than that of its Belarusian counterpart, Belarusian exporters of manufacturing products lost the Russian market. The exports of goods to Russia declined by one third, despite the rise in the re-exports of the sanctioned products from Europe. The drop in the production was most pronounced for many of the Belarus signature products: harvesters, TV sets, lorry trucks, tractors and textiles.
The current crisis in Belarus is often connected to the drop in oil prices, and this is partially true. Low oil prices affect the Russian economy, Belarus' main trading partner; they also make Belarusian oil refining business less profitable. But another part of the story is the structural problem in the Belarusian economy.
Since 2011 growth rates were too anaemic for the developing economy that Belarus is. The state-owned enterprises are loosing competitiveness on external markets despite luxury conditions within Belarus, and no oil price can return Belarus to the growth rates above 3 per cent without the structural reforms with aim to boost productivity.
The policy switch in 2015
2015 also became a year of economic policy switch, led by the National bank. The National bank finally has abandoned the currency peg, and has let the exchange rates to float. Before 2015, half of devaluation always translated in inflation.
In 2015, with currency devaluation of about 60 per cent over the year, inflation will not surpass 12-13 per cent, according to expectations (Belstat has not released inflation figures for the whole year yet). Despite the difficult year with the dramatic drop in exports, the floating exchange rate absorbed part of the shocks, and the currency reserves did not deplete completely.
The government also changed its behaviour, although less than the National Bank. With 2015 being the election year everyone expected the government to increase wages. Instead the real incomes declined, and the state-owned enterprises massively cut employment.
Unemployment insurance systems as a tool of social protection Formation of an adequate system of social protection and security as a tool to support the unemployed population is becoming one of the most pressing challenges in Belarus. Read more
While this policy worsened the welfare of Belarusians, it allowed achieving macroeconomic stabilisation and avoiding another currency crisis. Another piece of good news is that the government also plans to introduce a proper unemployment insurance, that becomes necessary in time of strict fiscal and monetary policy.
Threats to watch for in 2016
The GDP in 2016 will depend greatly on the oil price, with the independent estimates ranging from -3 to +1 per cent growth rate under different scenarios. But even soaring oil prices will not deliver high growth rates. Growth will become possible only after the structural reforms, and in several years.
Real incomes and employment will be falling or stagnating. If the National bank preserves its independence, the inflation will continue to slow down, and the exchange rate will fluctuate with the oil prices and the Russian rouble.
The banking system and the currency exchange equilibrium continue to be fragile Read more
The banking system and the currency exchange equilibrium continue to be fragile and vulnerable to external shocks. Many state-owned enterprises are drowning in debt, and the current financial situation makes it difficult to service these debts. The series of defaults in payments may cause the banking crisis.
The currency reserves are currently at the critically low level ($4 175.8mln on the 1st of January 2016, lowest level since the crisis of 2011). If some adverse external events hit the economy, the National bank will not have enough reserves to stabilise the situation, and another uncontrolled currency crisis might occur. That is why Belarus needs a loan from IMF or some other party.
Reforms to expect in 2016
The biggest problem of the Belarusian economy today is inefficient state-owned enterprises. Any reforms that aim to generate growth should first of all address this problem. The most obvious way to raise efficiency is to privatise. But so far the government has been reluctant to sell “family silver”, and there are no buyers willing to invest into indebted and inefficient enterprises.
Another way is to reform the management system while preserving the state ownership, but this strategy has rather limited potential. Which way (or combination of ways) the government will go in 2016 remains to be seen, but dealing with this problem will take at least 5-10 years.
government will most likely start implementing unpopular reforms in 2016, raising utilities bills, removing some tax incentives and increasing subsidised tariffs Read more
Public finance and inefficient social security system cause additional problems. Current social security system in Belarus relies mostly on subsidies instead of targeted, means-based support. But the economic crisis means less money in the budget and need to cut expenditures.
The recommendations of IMF and other potential creditors usually feature the demands to cut subsidies. And despite the unpopularity of these reforms, government will most likely start implementing them in 2016, raising utilities bills, removing some tax incentives and increasing subsidised tariffs.
The 2016 will not be much different from 2015. We cannot expect drastic reforms, as the economic crisis is not drastic either. But we can expect small steps towards better economic policy, as we observed in 2015. The volatility of the economy will remain dependent on external shocks, and the beginning of the year suggests there will be a lot of bumps on the road.
Kateryna Bornukova, BEROC
This article is a part of a joint project between Belarus Digest and Belarusian Economic Research and Outreach Center (BEROC)
“Second-Hand” Coverage: Alexievich’s Nobel Prize in the Belarus’ Media
Sviatlana Alexievich. Photo credit: Belarus Segodnya
Summing up the results and achievements of 2015, Belarusian TV proudly mentioned the Nobel Prize in literature, awarded to a Belarusian author, Sviatlana Alexievich. Although several other Nobel laureates in the past had Belarusian roots, Alexievich's award was the first one for a Belarusian citizen.
The Nobel Prize for Alexievich generated mixed responses in the Belarusian society, yet at the same time it also boosted the feelings of national pride among the ordinary Belarusians. On a different level, it improved the international image of the country, suffering from the stereotype of the “last dictatorship in Europe.”
Surprisingly, the coverage of the Nobel Prize by the leading Belarusian media seemed very concise, neutral, and distanced. The personality of Alexievich and her opinionated positions are inconvenient for the current Belarusian political regime and the state-run newspapers and TV channels downplayed the significance of the award, yet they could not ignore it altogether.
Winners and Losers of October 2015
The announcement of the Nobel Prize winners in 2015 coincided with the presidential electoral campaign in Belarus. Given the low-profile of this year’s elections and a lack of a united opposition candidate, the current incumbent, Aliaksandr Lukashenka, anticipated an easy and sweeping victory.
While the previous elections in 2010 ended in the scenes of violence on the streets of Minsk, in 2015 it was the Nobel Prize that shattered Lukashenka’s expectations of another unchallenged triumph. Even though Alexievich does not belong to the official opposition, she openly stated her criticism of Lukashenka and his rule on several occasions. Her Nobel Prize drew more attention to the problematic character of the Belarusian regime, stealing the spotlight from the presidential show.
The leading state Belarusian media demonstrated a reserved approach to the Nobel Prize. The article on Alexievich's first press-conference in one of largest the official newspapers, Belarus Segodnia, pointed out the immense interest of domestic and foreign journalists to this event.
However, it failed to provide the full coverage of the press-conference itself, which took place in the tiny office spaces of the independent newspaper Naša Niva. Instead, Belarus Segodnia was carefully avoiding any statements, which could appear too controversial.
Belarus Segodnia presented Alexievich as a an “artist, who deals with the global issues of the human existence” and “is not afraid to express her thoughts,” often provoking conflict situations within the so-called “pseudoliterary cultural milieus.”
At the same time, the newspaper stressed her Belarusianness and historical meaning of the award, pointing out Alexievich's “territory of inner freedom” and alienation from the “pro-governmental establishment.”
Belarusian TV reported the news of the Nobel Prize in a more concise manner. Despite the fact that Alexievich lives in Minsk and seemed easily accessible for interviews and commentaries, the state media did not attempt to offer her appearance on the TV screens. Instead, the First Belarusian TV channel simply used a quote of the president Lukashenka's official congratulation statement.
“The Word to the Laureate”
The main events of the Nobel Week in Stockholm included a lecture on 7 December and the award ceremony on 10 December. Neither were broadcast in full by the Belarusian official media that continued with a selective and limited coverage.
On 8 December, a short note entitled “The Word to the Laureate” appeared in Belarus Segodnia. Contrary to the title, Alexievich did not actually get to speak to the audience of the newspaper. Instead, the note contained basic information on the award ceremony and the financial value of the prize.
Belarus Segodnia also published some excerpts from Alexievich's Nobel lecture, acknowledging that the scale of her achievement would in the end benefit the global image of Belarus. An unsigned editorial commentary concluded that she “was not willing to follow the lead of so-called “pseudodemocrats,” implying the lack of references to the opposition slogans in her lecture.
Belarusian TV channels did not plan to organise a live broadcast of the award ceremony on 10 December. Belteleradiocompany explained this decision by a vague reference to "organizational, technical, financial, and legal aspects." Instead, the Nobel Prize events, general reports on all winners, and information on the protocol procedures sporadically appeared in the news, yet failed to become the main theme.
Described as the winner of “one of the most grandiose and important awards in the world,” Alexievich on Belarusian TV received only a brief praise for depicting “the real price of a heroic deed” and the “other side of the war, which completely transforms human beings.” No further commentaries on her writing followed. Otherwise, they might have revealed that Alexievich's focus on the brutality and inhumanity of the war conflicting with the officially promoted glorified suffering and heroism.
Celebrating Nobel Together: #nobelrazam
Belarusian civil society responded to the meagre coverage of the Nobel Prize in the official media with a spontaneous grass-roots initiative Nobel Razam (Nobel Together). Originating in the social networks, a flashmob campaign #nobelrazam encouraged people to organise public viewing of the Nobel Week events in Stockholm.
Social media users shared information and Youtube links for the Nobel lecture and the award ceremony online. Alexievich also received a warm welcome from her fans and readers at the Minsk International Airport, when she returned to Belarus on 15 December. None of the state officials showed up to greet the Nobel Prize winner on the Belarusian soil. Belarusian Ministry of Culture congratulated her only with a telegram.
The Nobel Prize made it impossible for the official Belarusian media to ignore Alexievich, providing her with a protection against scornful attacks. They proudly acknowledged her achievements, yet at the same time attempted to place the inconvenient prize winner into shadows. However, in this instance, Belarusian society proved to be worthy of its Nobel laureate, treating her with the appropriate recognition and respect.
