Recipes for getting out of the crisis: from betting on lithium to lowering pensions for the richest

The meeting organized by Clarion in Malba last Tuesday, he sought to define the engines of Argentine growth. The good news is that the economists who participated in the colloquium —Ricardo Arriazu, Carlos Melconian, Emmanuel Alvarez Agis and Hernán Lacunza — found some axes that could help Argentina leave the stagnation where it has sunk within more than a decade. The bad news is there are no concrete policies to promote these sectors.

Arriazu described that over the past 150 years there have been two marked periods in the history of the country. “In the first 50 years, Argentina was the China of the world (the great supplier). Later came 100 years of decline where we went from tripling world GDP to equalizing it. We did something very wrong. “

The economist made an account of the foreign exchange resources which the country could use and, among other sectors, focused on mining. He estimated that “Lithium resources are a whole GDP. With little effort Argentina can export $ 30 billion energy and so on $ 10 billion of mining. And we must add the potential of the countryside, which has the highest productivity rate in Argentina, and also the knowledge industry. After that, everyone moves on their own. “

For former minister Hernán Lacunza, the way to achieve growth requires the implementation of an in -depth tax reform. “With taxes over 50%, it’s no longer convenient to produce. We discussed lowering the Income Tax, which is paid only by 10% of workers, and not the Gross Income Tax, which is paid by all taxpayers. And that’s because Earnings is a tax you see on your salary, while Total Income is not visible. We have an addiction to the unseen. “

Lacunza also mentioned the need for labor reform. “Now labor policies reflect 28 out of every 100 workers, who are those with formal jobs who are whitewashed. The labor discussion is becoming another bubble discussion. ” Given this context, “we must raise productivity. Build institutions,” Lacunza said.

Alvarez Agis took the gauntlet on the labor issue. “If we want to think of a new labor reform, let’s think of pension reform. I say that it should be progressive. My proposal is those here today (in Malba, referring to the auditorium of businessmen) and politicians) and we left to retire with assets of $ 200,000 or $ 300,000, we retired with the lowestAgis suggested.

The former Deputy Minister of Economy made a similar statement about rate subsidies. “I paid $ 576 for electricity. I should have paid $ 12,000. The poor get $ 50 billion of the $ 150 billion we spend on subsidies. We argue that the water is wet. The discussion should not last more than 10 minutes. It’s time that when we pay $ 12,000 for electricity, we understand that this is the part that touches us. “

Melconian took care to highlight the importance of political consensus. “We need to learn to manage the coalition and remove the crack. We need to close the agreements before the election. It is necessary to stabilize the macro and prepare a public sector reform. There is no chance of getting out of here without foreign trade. A dysregulatory shock is urgent: we must release the initiative of the private sector, which creates wealth. It’s important to put society behind it and launch a cultural battle. “