"Хочется дожить до следующего завтрака". Песков слушал с кривой мордой, Греф пытался скрыть ужас

Summary

In this thought-provoking speech, the speaker reflects on the challenges facing Russia’s business environment and its institutional framework. Despite progress in national projects, the country continues to struggle with protecting property rights, a weak investment climate, and the lack of essential institutions. The speaker critiques the focus on blaming external enemies for economic issues and emphasizes the need for stability, long-term growth, and private sector involvement. Drawing comparisons with past discussions, the speaker underscores the importance of institutional reform to ensure a thriving economy and sustainable development.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker begins by addressing the audience and emphasizes the importance of survival and discussing challenges in the current context.
• 😀 The statement by Dmitry Sergeevich, highlighting that Western companies do not plan to return, sparks a sense of indignation in the speaker, reflecting broader frustrations with foreign business relationships.
• 😀 The 'elephant in the room' is a metaphorical concept describing the unspoken, but critical issues affecting discussions and decisions. The speaker stresses the need to address these issues for effective decision-making.
• 😀 The speaker highlights the country's bright future but also acknowledges the unpredictability of its past as a significant obstacle to progress.
• 😀 Business leaders are discouraged from discussing the main issue—the lack of institutions protecting property rights—and the failure to create a stable investment climate.
• 😀 A new regulation has brought clarity about when the statute of limitations begins to run, adding certainty to the business environment, though the speaker remains critical of the legal system.
• 😀 The speaker criticizes the tendency to blame external enemies for economic problems, arguing that the real issue lies in ignorance and a lack of institutional reform.
• 😀 The failure to solve key issues, such as property rights protection, has been ongoing for over 25 years, as evidenced by President Putin's 2001 statement, which remains unaddressed.
• 😀 The speaker calls for institutional reform, as quality institutions are crucial for the success of national projects and the overall stability of the economy.
• 😀 Despite ongoing national projects and increasing government spending, the speaker emphasizes the importance of private business participation in economic development, warning against relying solely on state funding.
• 😀 Reflecting on past failures, the speaker notes that socialism collapsed because it could not meet its basic economic law of fulfilling the ever-growing needs of workers, drawing a parallel to the current system's potential flaws.

Q & A

What is the significance of the phrase 'elephant in the room' mentioned in the script?

The phrase 'elephant in the room' refers to a major issue or problem that everyone is aware of but no one wants to address. In the script, the speaker uses this metaphor to discuss the challenges facing Russia, particularly in relation to business and investment climate.

Why does the speaker mention Dmitry Sergeevich Peskov's statement about Western companies not returning?

The speaker mentions Peskov's statement to highlight the growing frustration with the failure of Western companies to return to Russia despite assurances. This underscores the tension in the business environment and the lack of progress on economic issues.

What is the speaker’s view on the relationship between the investment climate and the legal system?

The speaker believes that the investment climate is heavily influenced by the legal system, particularly the protection of property rights. He emphasizes the importance of having institutions that guarantee fair judicial processes, which would help establish certainty for businesses.

What issue does the speaker highlight about the statute of limitations?

The speaker points out that the statute of limitations now begins when the prosecutor’s office becomes aware of an issue, not when the event occurred. This change is seen as a point of 'certainty' for businesses, although the speaker is critical of how this shift might impact legal proceedings.

How does the speaker view the role of law enforcement agencies in protecting property rights?

The speaker expresses concern that law enforcement agencies are not effectively protecting property rights. He implies that decisions are often influenced by external pressures, rather than being based solely on law and justice.

What is the historical context provided by the speaker regarding national projects?

The speaker references discussions from a previous Sber breakfast in 2019, when national projects were first introduced. He notes that despite the passage of time, many of the same questions about growth and business involvement remain unresolved.

Why does the speaker bring up the issue of 'acquisitive prescription' and 'bona fide acquisition'?

The speaker brings up these legal terms to highlight the challenges in protecting property rights in Russia. He argues that institutions must ensure the protection of property for all, including small owners and not just large corporations.

What does the speaker suggest about the state of Russia's economic institutions?

The speaker stresses that Russia’s economic institutions are lacking in quality and efficiency, ranking 126th in the world in terms of institutional strength. He argues that this weak institutional framework hampers the country’s economic progress.

How does the speaker view the role of national projects in Russia's economy?

The speaker believes that national projects are essential for the country’s economic growth but also argues that the government cannot continuously fund them. He emphasizes the importance of private business participation in these projects to ensure long-term economic success.

What is the speaker's critique of the Soviet Union’s economic system?

The speaker critiques the Soviet Union’s collapse, citing its failure to meet the growing needs of its citizens, a core principle of socialism. He warns that Russia must avoid repeating this mistake by not properly establishing its own economic laws and institutions.