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Economic Research Center

The Economic Research Center (ERC) is dedicated to strengthening participatory governance and overall economic growth. By nurturing economic growth and improving administration practices, ERC amplifies the voices and opinions of lower government tiers and ordinary people. Through research and initiatives, ERC promotes transparency, accountability, public participation, and decentralized governance.

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Economic Research Center

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  1. Economic Research Center Annual Report 2009 Baki, Caspian Plaza, March 11, 2010

  2. Structure • Programs • Resources • Products • Donors • Partners • Finance • Achievements • Challenges • Future plans

  3. Our Mission ERC is dedicated to strengthening participatory governance and overall economic growth. ERC’ mission is to nurture the economic growth and improved administration practices throughout the country, especially in areas of participatory democracy amplifying the voices and opinions of lower government tiers and ordinary people.

  4. StrategicGoals ERC’s vision is of effective and sustainable civic engagement in all levels of public administration and thusmore citizens’ access to the related information through building favorable interactions between the governmentand civil society.

  5. Economic Research Center What is ERC? • ERC is in the pursuit of policy environment change via the following roles: • ERC is a policy research organization • ERC is a convener • ERC is a preferred reference point • ERC is a whistle-blower • ERC is a bridge between knowledge and policy

  6. Economic Research Center Research principles The Center’s major research dimensions cover the issues on popularizing the economic and business knowledge in the society, enhancing transparency and accountability, public participation and decentralized governance issues. The research dimensions are grounded in the following fundamental belief: • That the Effective teaching Methodology should entail a holistic approach to education issues, whether in economic field or otherwise, which can go far beyond conventional method teaching • That the new public management under decentralized governance should be based on inclusive policies and transparency • That it is vital to keep people aware of evolving issues of nationwide interest or concern to ensure timely accountability on the side of public officials • That it is the indication of state policy on effective expenditures in the field of social oriented market economy, social maintenance and social protection

  7. Economic Research Center Recent research and initiatives • “ Budget Transparency and Budget Control” program ( 2004-ongoing). The project is supported by Oxfam Great Britain and Open Society Institute’s Assistance Foundation. In the first phase of the program, the monitoring and analysis of funds allocated for initial health care from state budget through increasing budget transparency has been conducted. The second phase of the program aims increase awareness and interest among various groups of society towards budget through publications ( “ The budget guide of citizen”) concerning the budget. • “ Support to Economic Education” Program ( 2004-still continues). The project aims at promoting active economic education methods and increased teaching quality at schools. Financed by CEE and held in various regions across the country, the annual workshops involve teachers to develop their skills in teaching of economics.

  8. Economic Research Center Recent research and initiatives • “ Alternative Inflation Rate and Model Development” project has been launched since 2009. The project is financed by the Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Co-operation ( SECO). One of the main project directions is to build econometric model for forecasting of inflation and measuring impact level of factors influencing to inflation level in Azerbaijan. Nevertheless, carry out observations of changes occurred in consumer price index in 22 regions. • “ Strengthening Local Self-Governance in Azerbaijan” program. The project acquired financial support from Oxfam ( Great Britain) and ICCO ( Holland) organizations. The aim of the project is raise trust of communities toward municipalities, improve the position of municipalities in dialogue with government and attain enhancement of municipalities through increasing financial resources in Azerbaijan.

  9. Economic Research Center Recent research and initiatives • “ Evaluation of Impact of State Budget Expenses On Social Field from Macroeconomic Equilibrium Perspective” project. It has been launched since 2009 and financed by the Civil Society Project of Counterpart Organization and Open Society Institute’s Assistance Foundation. It has been started to analyze social related state budget expenditures. Furthermore, essence, efficacy of pension reforms and their impact on pensioners implemented in the country has been researched. • “ Household Budget Survey Methodology Development” project ( 2008-2010) implements with financial assistance of USAID and organizational support of Counterpart and World Learning organizations. The main activity carried out within the project has been survey among 3 thousand households. The survey aimed evaluation of access possibilities of population to social services. The project will serve for strengthening of Azerbaijan state’s poverty reduction and regions development program strategy, as well as methodological development of household budget survey.

  10. Economic Research CenterRecent research and initiatives • “Dutch Disease in Azerbaijan: A Disease After All?” is a researched based project financed by US Department of State. The project has been implemented by the University of North Carolina and Economic Research Center. Impact of the “ Dutch Disease” on Azerbaijan has been researched within the project. Moreover, a special survey has been conducted among business parties operating in Azerbaijan. More than 500 enterprises participated at the survey. The survey results were presented on December 10, 2009 at the University of North Carolina. • “ Agricultural Input Market” launched since 2009. The project has been financed by Oxfam Novib. Current condition of agricultural system of Azerbaijan has been researched through statistical analyses and economic-mathematic methods within the project.

  11. Management Structure

  12. Policy and Rules • Accounting Policy • Rules on Public Relations • Quality Control Standards • Rules on Human Resources • Rules on External Relations • Communication strategy

  13. Economic Research CenterInformation resources • ERC has rich and reliable information base. The major part of this base is formed through Center’s own researches (outcomes of statistical observation for 3 years on Consumer Price Index within 22 regions, conducted survey among 3000 households, including conducted survey among 300 business firms for the aim of learning affects of global financial crisis to the business sector).

  14. Economic Research Center Public Discussions • ERC has held 9 conferences( including 1 international conference), 9 round table discussions, 12 presentations and public discussions, 2 seminars and trainings and 1 radio debate. Over 30 local and foreign specialists, as well as representatives of international organizations and foreign embassies, including roughly 15 Mass Media took place. • Department on public affairs of ERC divulged 14 press releases. The opinions and interviews of ERC experts in different matters elucidated between 70-80 times in a month at mass media. At the same time 9 informational bulletin related to ERC’s activities was published in two languages ( Azerbaijan and English) and including 7 editions of “ Expert” magazine has been published and distributed among partners.

  15. Economic Research Center

  16. Training & Seminars 2 Round tables Press Release 9 14 Conferences Presentation & public discussion 9 12 Economic Research CenterPublic affairs

  17. Economic Research Center Publications

  18. Economic Research CenterInformation Bulletins

  19. Economic Research CenterParticipation on International Conferences • December 05, 2008 – January 06, 2009,USA Laurence, Mississippi, Kansas University • January 11– May23, 2009, USAChapel Hill, University of North Carolina • March 06-11 2009, Philippines, Manila, Conference of ADBI • March 23-29 2009, Turkey, İstanbul, Soros Foundation–NY office • July 20 - August15 2009, Bulgaria, Open Society Institute Fellowship program • October 22-23 2009, Turkey, İstanbul, NATO advanced research workshop • October 24-25 2009, Ukrain, Lvov, PASOS annual conference • October 29-30 2009,Romania, Bukharest, Blacksea NGO Forum • November 16-17 2009, Belgium, Brussels, Eastern Partnership NGO Forum • November 16-8 2009, Canada, Montreal, Publish What You Pay annual conference • December 05-11 2009, USAChapel Hill, University of North Carolina • December 18-21 2009, Kazakhstan, Almaty, NUPİ seminar.

  20. Economic Research Center Recommendations

  21. It is possible to calculate Consumption Price Index with the inflation calculator individually. List of goods and comparison period are chosen for it. The result shows inflation rate of goods used at the chosen period. Inflation Calculator

  22. Economic Research CenterPartners • ERC is the member of Publish What You Pay, PASOS, CİVİCUS, ENTO, ALDA and Black Sea Ngo Forum. The Center is one of the establishers of local civic public coalitions, such as National Budget Group, Call for Health NGO Alliance, Municipal Alliance, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, and Global Call To Action Against Poverty Azerbaijan National Coalition.

  23. With the help of municipality tax calculator each person could calculate local taxes as land and property taxes, field taxes of local importance on construction materials paid to municipality budgets. Municipality Tax Calculator

  24. Economic Research Center Donors

  25. Economic Research Center

  26. Challenges • Limitation of participation in state programs • Weakness of partnership opportunities with private sector • Existence of problems in development of Civil Society • Lack of human and financial resources • Lack of journalism professionalism on writing economic articles • Difficulties on placing information about ERC’s researches at electron Mass Media websites and telecasts due to their dependence from political power • Several conservative governmental officials avoiding from open discussions and debates with ERC experts • Persecutions on to journalists and mass media structures who disseminate independent information

  27. Economic Research CenterAchievements • References to ERC’s research outcomes are being increased ( for instance: The Economist, Financial Times, CNN, AlJaazera etc. ) • External relations are being expanded (ENTO, Chatam House, WTTN etc.) • Cooperation with diplomatic structures, international organizations, civic society institutions, including Mass Media has been broaden; • Relations with academic spheres, universities and research institutions are developing • Opportunities on cooperation with state bodies and as well as influencing to political decision making are being increased

  28. Economic Research CenterFuture Plans • Expansion of economic and commercial activities • Appeals for state tenders • Focusing more on research initiatives and programs • Increase the quantity and quality of intellect products • Establishment of bilateral ties with world analytics centers

  29. Thank you for attention Baku, Azerbaijan AZ1065JafarJabbarli44, Caspian Plaza 3, floor 9Telephone: (+99412) 437 32 30Fax: (+99412) 437 32 40web-site: www.erc-az.orge-mail:office@erc-az.org,erc-az@azeurotel.com

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