2003 Highlights

I. Informal economy

Three years ago CSD opened up the debate on informal economy in Bulgaria, developing a network of experts and holding two high-profile international conferences - raising public and the policy makes' awareness of the problem. Informal economy measures topped the economic policy agenda in 2003. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Economy proposed their separate sets of measures for reducing the informal economy in the country.

1. Watchdog: Informal economy measures topped the national economic policy agenda in 2003. In the framework of Coalition 2000, CSD developed and tested an informal economy index, measuring its dynamics in its different forms (labor market, taxes, contraband, etc.) to assess economic policy impact. The index received wide media and policy attention.

2. Knowledge Sharing: CSD published two conference books (one in Bulgarian and one in English) and more than 15 articles in leading media on the causes, specific forms, dynamics, consequences and policy responses of informal economic activities in EU candidate countries. The books combine a balanced academic and applied policy approach, presenting challenges for further research and policy recommendations.

Publications

The book Informal Economy in the EU Accession Countries: Size, Scope, Trends and Challenges in the Process of EU Enlargement contains contributions from more than 20 scholars on the study of informality. It reveals that the principal causes of informal economy in accession countries and EU member-states are the same but they have disproportionately larger negative impact on the former, which is further exacerbated by the institutional transition. Informal economies in some EU member countries are of comparable size to such in accession countries although the forms of informality differ. The book concludes that informality tends to spill over national borders, which makes the problem a matter of European concern and collective efforts should be applied to find appropriate solutions. Introducing stricter EU regulations in the softer administrative enforcement environment in the accession countries might have an adverse effect and push more enterprises in the informal economy. The Bulgarian version of the book contains a separate part dedicated to specific problems in this country - the links of grey economy to contraband, corruption and criminal activities. In 2003 CSD published more than 15 articles in leading Bulgarian newspapers on informal economy keeping the public and the professional community aware of the latest developments in this area in the country.

On the Web

CSD is Google's prime Bulgarian site on informal economy - search words "informal economy", "grey economy", "criminal economy", etc. The Economic Program has created a special informal economy page on the newly re-designed CSD web-site and supports a separate resource page on the Bulgaria Development Gateway on the issues of informal economy.

Events

The Economic Program held two thematic round-tables on the informal economy during the year. These events targeted specific issues important to this country. In search for viable solutions they gathered all stakeholders to the particular problem ensuring alternative view points and plurality of opinion. The first round table "Grey Economy in Bulgaria - Recent Trends" organized on July 23rd, focused on the informal economy in the IT sector. Representatives of the Applied Research and Communications Fund (leading Bulgarian IT NGO), BAIT (the Bulgarian IT companies' association), BASSCOM (the industry association of Bulgarian software development companies), Bulgarian International Business Association (BIBA), the Ministry of Economy, the General Tax Directorate, the Intellectual Property Department at the National Service for Combating the Organized Crime and others discussed the latest trends in informality in the industry. The informal economy in the IT sector is about the average percent in the country, i.e. 25%. Hidden clause employment and its mirror hidden turnover are the dominant forms of informality in the sector with some salaries being three to four times higher than officially disclosed. While contraband channels seem to be less of a factor, software piracy and new forms of informality (e.g. money laundering through Internet) appear. The experts concluded that a well-functioning public-private partnership including international industry suppliers, local businesses, public and law enforcement administration and NGOs is instrumental for achieving a sustainable reduction in the share of informality in the sector. Problems of particular attention should be: (i) improving public procurement transparency and lowering corrupt transactions, (ii) upgrading tax service and control and (iii) reducing administrative compliance costs in the official economy.

The second round table "Competitive Environment and the Informal Economy in Bulgaria" organized on December 18th dealt with the worst economic consequence of the informal economy - unfair competition - the additional non-market pressure it exerts on official businesses. Vitosha Research Agency surveys show that by far unfair competition is defined by entrepreneurs as the single most detrimental factor to their business, which bends the rules of competition and creates huge incentives for going informal. The three biggest industrial associations in the country BIBA, Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Bulgarian Industrial Association, which represent jointly more than 70% of the private sector in the country, shared with public administration, NGO and donor organizations' representatives outlined their points of view on informality and unfair competition and proposed measures for dealing with them. Smuggling, contraband and fraud at import, inefficient customs, public procurement and unclear legislation are the main sources of gray economic activity.

3. Networking: CSD expanded its domestic and international expert networks in 2003 sharing best practices in research, advocacy and policy actions. Economic program experts presented CSD research at two international conferences on informal labor, which aimed to advise the EU Italian Presidency on EU wide strategy against undeclared work

In 2003 Economic Program experts were invited to present Bulgaria's experience and achievements in countering informal economic activity to the Italian presidency of the EU. They participated at two international events on undeclared labor in Europe: (i) a joint DG Research and DG Employment and Social Affairs Seminar "Informal/Undeclared Work: Research on its Changing Nature and Policy Strategies in an Enlarged Europe" on May 21st in Brussels and (ii) "European Conference on Policies for Employment and Against Undeclared Work: From Segmentation to Integration of Labour Markets" on December 12-13th in Catania, Italy.

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II. Corporate Governance

Private sector business integrity is of high importance not only to the separate company but for the overall economic and social development of the country. Private companies produce currently more than 70% of GDP and few of them are of size, which might inflict considerable damage on the economy if mismanaged.

1. Regional Outreach: CSD was commissioned by the World Bank and developed a corporate governance community knowledge-sharing tool for NGOs in Europe and Central Asia countries. It also piloted the first two corporate governance newsletters to initiate the network's work.

In 2003 CSD initiated a working group under Coalition 2000, which prepared an updated report on corporate governance in Bulgaria. The report is expected in the beginning of 2004. Recognizing the extensive experience and resources CSD and the Corporate Governance Initiative have acquired during their work in 2003 the World Bank commissioned the economic program team to develop a community knowledge sharing portal for the ECA region. The portal was successfully launched and CSD prepared the first two pilot newsletters for its clients. It is intended to become a clearing house for information and best practices sharing among expert communities in the region.

2. Awareness Raising: Partnering with Coalition 2000 grantee Integra, in 2003 CSD took part in promoting ethical standards and self-regulation among SMEs to curb supply side corruption pressures. Giving practical examples of accomplished high standards of business integrity to SMEs was the first step in a coalition building process to promote strong self-governance principles.

In 2003 CSD shifted its corporate governance work towards company self-regulation and internal ethics rule establishment. For the first time in this country CSD presented figures on corruption in the private sector - its magnitude and its specific forms at a round table in June. In December BIBA invited Economic Program experts to present their findings at an international conference "Countering Corruption - a Factor for Improving the Business Climate in Bulgaria", which highlighted that businesses are already aware of the size and severity of the problem and are taking responsive action. Active companies are primarily foreign multinationals, which transfer their standard internal regulations and ethical rules to their local subsidiaries. Home-grown SMEs remain overwhelmingly unaware of existing conflicts of interest and methods of dealing with them.

In cooperation with Integra - Bulgaria, CSD presented to SMEs and the public a model "Code of Ethics and Social Audit". The publication is intended to aid SMEs in uncovering conflicts of interest and handling them professionally, avoiding conflicts with employees and building their own internal system for integrity. Preventive measures put a long-term downward pressure on supply of corruption in the economy. Reducing corrupt practices in the private sector levels the playing field and improves the competitive environment thus raising economic efficiency.

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III. Horizontal Accountability and Enterprise

Contemporary economic development is increasingly local, cluster and urban in character. Therefore local administrative governance is imperative to the development of viable national economies. In big cities where governance is shared among many district administrations horizontal accountability in administering business regulations is key to creating a welcome entrepreneurial and business climate.

1. Horizontal Accountability: In 2003 CSD started an initiative to assist improvement in local administrative governance in Sofia in the area of licensing, registration and permit regimes by establishing horizontal accountability and lowering barriers to business. This would require that all 24 Sofia districts conform to common principles of administrative regulation and business friendly practices.

2. Advocating Change: Together with partners from Coalition 2000 and other NGOs CSD contributed to the introduction of transparency and accountability in the work of the Sofia Municipal Council by proposing changes to its new statutes.

In Bulgaria the economy of the capital city of Sofia accounts for more than 1/3 of the country's GDP and hosts about 40% of SMEs. It has one central and 24 district administrations, which often enforce business administrative rules in substantially different ways. This imposes considerable costs on businesses in Sofia and hampers the capital city's development. In the end of 2003 CSD started work on introducing horizontal accountability and common principles of administrative governance in the 24 districts of Sofia through institutional and legislative changes. It aims at lowering business transaction costs and improving the overall business environment in the city.

CSD established a working group on local administrative governance, which comprises of representatives from the Sofia Municipality, the Municipal Council, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and NGOs to prepare a report on the administration of licensing, registration and permit regimes in Sofia and propose legislative and institutional improvements to the City Council. The group has identified two sets of regimes that impose the highest compliance costs on businesses and are sources of corruption - (1) regulating commercial activities and (2) regulating construction and architecture. Members of the group proposed changes to the City Council’s statutes, establishing the principles of publicprivate partnership and transparency in the Council’s work. The proposed texts have been largely incorporated by the Councilors in the new statutes.

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