Media Review - March 1, 2019

The assessment of decrees and orders signed by the President in February 2019 in connection with the increased social protection of the population, a look at state intervention in the economy, the expert"s comment on the decision on solving problem loans are the leading topics of today's media.

The newspaper Azerbaijan calls the decrees and orders by President Ilham Aliyev on strengthening the social protection of the population "February reforms". They became part of the social reform package, the author wrote.

For 15 years, wages of citizens increased 7 times, and the minimum wage increased 6.5 times. The author also refers to the presidential decree signed on February 28 on solving problem loans of citizens, which will affect 800 thousand people.

The newspaper Yeni Musavat talks about the positive and negative aspects of increasing the role of the state in the economy. This creates certain problems, the expert believes. First of all, this is a decrease in the efficiency of management. The state actually assumes obligations to return the loans taken. This puts a heavy burden on the state budget. According to the expert, the fiscal burden does not make it possible to allocate funds from the state budget for the development of other areas. As a result, the social welfare of the population is not growing, and the strategic goals and objectives are not implemented.

The website Teleqraf.com talks about problem loans and the presidential order dated February 28. The economist Gubad Ibadoglu believes the order applies only to individuals.

According to the document, a debt of not more than 5 thousand dollars can be canceled. This will affect creditors after January 2012.

Three months were allocated for the implementation of the order, during which lawsuits should be withdrawn and debts should be written off.