EXPERT: INFLATION RATE IN ARMENIA BELIEVED TO GO UP, AS IT HAPPENS AFTER EVERY ELECTION
YEREVAN, February 22. /ARKA/. Inflation rate in Armenia is believed
to go up, as it happens after every election, Harutyun Mesrobyan,
an expert in management, said on Friday.
He said strong impacts of political developments on price-making
processes in the country are connected with monopolization of the
market, since no inflation propelled by only market processes can be
in countries with such an economic setup.
Mesrobyan said for example that there is no correlation between changes
in sugar prices in world markets and in Armenia. He pointed out the
necessity of revising the present inflation-gauging methodology,
since it doesn't reflect the reality.
"Calculation of inflation is based on prices of some 470 varieties
of goods, including, for example, real estate prices, which don't
affect vulnerable segments of the country's population," he said.
Mesrobyan proposed to consider prices for 50-60 varieties of goods as
well as prices for utilities for low-income segments of the population,
to consider prices for 180-190 varieties of goods and services for
middle-class people and the current inflation rate.
"If we used this methodology for calculating the 2008 inflation,
which was recorded at 9%, according to official reports, we would have
higher-than-20-percent inflation for socially unsecured segments,"
he said.
Economist Tatul Manaseryan, head of Alternative research center, on his
side, said the struggle against monopolies is still sluggish despite
of the considerable progress the State Commission for Protection of
Economic Competition has reached in this area.
At the same time, he expressed hope that President Sargsyan will
implement his election program, which, first of all, implies support
for small and mid-scale businesses.
The National Statistical Service of Armenia says month-on-month
inflation was recorded at 2.9% in Armenia in January 2013.
According to official statistical reports, economic activity grew 9.1%
in January 2013, compared with the same month a year before.
In the 2013 government budget, inflation is projected at 4% (±1.5%)
and GDP growth at 6.2%.---0---
YEREVAN, February 22. /ARKA/. Inflation rate in Armenia is believed
to go up, as it happens after every election, Harutyun Mesrobyan,
an expert in management, said on Friday.
He said strong impacts of political developments on price-making
processes in the country are connected with monopolization of the
market, since no inflation propelled by only market processes can be
in countries with such an economic setup.
Mesrobyan said for example that there is no correlation between changes
in sugar prices in world markets and in Armenia. He pointed out the
necessity of revising the present inflation-gauging methodology,
since it doesn't reflect the reality.
"Calculation of inflation is based on prices of some 470 varieties
of goods, including, for example, real estate prices, which don't
affect vulnerable segments of the country's population," he said.
Mesrobyan proposed to consider prices for 50-60 varieties of goods as
well as prices for utilities for low-income segments of the population,
to consider prices for 180-190 varieties of goods and services for
middle-class people and the current inflation rate.
"If we used this methodology for calculating the 2008 inflation,
which was recorded at 9%, according to official reports, we would have
higher-than-20-percent inflation for socially unsecured segments,"
he said.
Economist Tatul Manaseryan, head of Alternative research center, on his
side, said the struggle against monopolies is still sluggish despite
of the considerable progress the State Commission for Protection of
Economic Competition has reached in this area.
At the same time, he expressed hope that President Sargsyan will
implement his election program, which, first of all, implies support
for small and mid-scale businesses.
The National Statistical Service of Armenia says month-on-month
inflation was recorded at 2.9% in Armenia in January 2013.
According to official statistical reports, economic activity grew 9.1%
in January 2013, compared with the same month a year before.
In the 2013 government budget, inflation is projected at 4% (±1.5%)
and GDP growth at 6.2%.---0---