10
SOCIETY
GEORGIA TODAY
FEBRUARY 17 - 20, 2017
Georgian Studies Conference 2017 Economic Freedom Index 2017: Georgia Ups Its Position BY THEA MORRISON
T
he Heritage Foundation published Economic Freedom Index 2017 on February 15, which shows that Georgia earned 76 points and its status in terms of economic freedom is ‘mostly free’. The report covers 12 freedoms, from property rights to entrepreneurship, in 186 countries and says that Georgia has improved its position by moving from the 23rd position to 13th in world ranking. In terms of regional rank, Georgia is ahead of its neighboring countries and takes 5th position. “Georgia’s government has maintained strong momentum in liberalizing economic activity while taking steps to restore fiscal discipline. Public debt and budget deficits remain under control. Open-market policies, supported by competitively low tax rates and regulatory efficiency, have facilitated flows of trade and investment. Large-scale privatization has advanced, and anti-corruption efforts have yielded some notable results,” the report reads. Concerns are expressed about Property Rights,
Judicial Effectiveness, and Government Integrity, however. “With monetary stability and the overall soundness of fiscal health relatively well maintained, Georgia has enjoyed macroeconomic resilience. Nonetheless, deeper and more rapid institutional reforms to enhance judicial independence and effectiveness remain critical to ensuring further dynamic and lasting economic development,” the document says. In the world ranking, Hong Kong takes the top position, followed by Singapore, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Austria, while Eritrea, Congo, Cuba, Venezuela and North Korea are to be found at the bottom of Index of Economic Freedom 2017 list. Launched in 1995, the Index evaluates countries in four broad policy areas that affect economic freedom: rule of law; government size; regulatory efficiency; and open markets. There are 12 specific categories: property rights, judicial effectiveness, government integrity, tax burden, government spending, fiscal health, business freedom, labor freedom, monetary freedom, trade freedom, investment freedom, and financial freedom. Scores in these categories are averaged to create an overall score.
O
n February 7, St Antony’s College of the University of Oxford hosted the Georgian Studies Conference 2017 convened by the School of Interdisciplinary Area Studies (SIAS). 2017 marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Georgia and the United Kingdom. The Conference at the University of Oxford is one of the first events to celebrate this anniversary in the UK. The conference commenced with welcome speeches given by the Ambassador of Georgia, Tamar Beruchashvili, the Warden of the St Anthony’s College, Margaret Macmillan, and the Director of Russian and East European Studies, Professor Dan Healey. In her speech, the Ambassador focused on the importance of cooperation with the University of Oxford on different issues, representing a significant part of bilateral cooperation between Georgia and the UK. Moreover, the Ambassador announced the initial commitment from the Georgian public and private sector to co-sponsor the high profile activities planned by the Bodleian Library in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first Georgian Republic of 1918; namely, funding a book titled ‘Georgia and the Wardrops’ about the history and
culture of Georgia, researched and written by Dr Nikoloz Aleksidze, Research Fellow at Oxford, as well as other events in 2018 to complement the book’s release. The Georgian Studies Program at the School of Interdisciplinary Studies, supported by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation, represents an excellent source for research on Georgia, attracting outstanding Georgian and international scholars of humanities and social sciences to study different aspects of the country. In general, the University of Oxford has solid experience in carrying out studies on Georgia -the largest Kartvelian cultural heritage outside Georgia is preserved at Oxford’s Bodleian Library. The rich Wardrop collection of historical and literary books and manuscripts represents a treasure of international significance. Shota Rustaveli’s classic poem, Knight in the Panther’s Skin, which was added to UNESCO’s UK Memory of the World Register in 2013, is one of the most vivid examples within this collection. Other presentations at the conference made by the post-doctoral fellows of the Georgian Studies Program were focused on various aspects of Georgia’s history as well as on contemporary developments vis-à-vis its society, politics and modernity.
AFG Presents Phylantropist Award Ceremony 2016
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merican Friends of Georgia on February 17 is hosting an event “Together we can make a Difference,” an evening dedicated to the promotion of the tradition of philanthropy. At the same time, the Ceremony of the Philanthropy Award 2016 will be held for the first time. American Friends of Georgia (AFG) is a US-based non-governmental charity organization operating in Georgia since 1994. The organization is focused
on assisting the most vulnerable groups of people (children and elderly). At the same time, AFG promotes a tradition of philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. The organization annually holds Charity Gala Evenings raising funds for assisting the priority projects of the year. AFG is supported by international and local business corporations, businessmen and civil society (artists, musicians, actors and actresses, singers, etc). Throughout the years, AFG has assisted hundreds of the most needy children and elderly in the frames of palliative homecare and different humanitarian programs. In 2016-2017, the organization priority programs are: the Dzegvi Shelter reconstruction and Palliative Home Care Program. The evening will be attended by representatives of accredited Diplomatic Corps, Ambassadors of the US, Japan and Kingdom of The Netherlands in Georgia, representatives of leading corporations and long-term partners. Young musicians, awardees of the Zakaria Paliashvili Central Music School and Musical Seminary contests, will perform specially selected compositions for the guests. The Evening is sponsored by Cafe-Restaurant Strada.