Geneva, 3 May 2001
On Monday, 7 May 2001, the United Nations Economic Commission
for Europe (UNECE) will hold its Spring Seminar on the theme: " Creating
a Supportive Environment for Business Enterprise and Economic Growth: Institutional
Reform and Governance " (see programme).
The Seminar will address issues and topics such as: Corruption
in economic transition and development: grease or sand? Governance and corruption
in transition: the challenge of subverting corruption; Public and corporate
governance - the institutional foundations of the market economy; and Institutional
change and economic performance in the transition economies.
The session on "Public and corporate governance - the
institutional foundations of the market economy" will focus on the basic
responsibilities of the state in creating and sustaining the institutional
framework of a market economy and on the importance of a competent, honest,
transparent and effectual public administration. The role of public governance
in promoting economic stability and a favourable climate for fixed investment;
and on effective corporate governance as a prerequisite for economic restructuring
and growth will also be discussed.
The session on "Institutional change and economic performance
in the transition economies" will review and evaluate the actual developments
in institution building and reform since the early 1990s in the transition
economies. It will discuss why some countries appear to have moved further
ahead than others, and assess the extent to which the different institutional
frameworks have contributed to economic growth and structural change in eastern
Europe and the CIS countries. Policy issues to be discussed include how to
introduce effective competition policies, the possibilities for investment
promotion, and the scope for industrial policy.
The session on "Corruption in economic transition and
development: grease or sand?" will explore the role that malfunctioning
and missing institutions play in slowing down economic growth and structural
change. It will review and evaluate the various channels through which corruption
can affect economic growth (e.g. multinational activity, trade openness, and
local entrepreneurship); and assess the extent to which corruption is slowing
down the economic transformation of eastern Europe and the CIS countries.
Further issues, such as the relationship between corruption and the composition
of foreign direct investment and the causal link between economic growth (and
poverty) and malfunctioning and missing institutions will also be explored.
The session on "Governance and corruption in transition:
the challenge of subverting corruption" will review and evaluate the
different strategies for controlling corruption and improving governance.
It will explore the linkage between economic policy and grand corruption;
and examine ways of providing transparency and accountability of government
expenditures. The relationship between malfunctioning and missing institutions
and legitimacy of the State will also be explored. Finally, the seminar will
also discuss what methods should be used for evaluating the anticorruption
strategies.
The Seminar is open to the public.
For further information please contact:
Economic Analysis Division
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Palais des Nations
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: (+41 22) 917 27 78
Fax: (+41 22) 917 03 09
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.unece.org/ead/ead_h.htm