The Impact of Fiscal Policy and Deregulation on Shadow Economies in Transition Countries: The Case of Ukraine

A model of Ukrainian shadow economy moneydemand is estimated that includes newregulatory burden, tax complexity, andsoft-budget constraint variables. Thismodel is analyzed to determine the causesand dynamics of the Ukrainian shadoweconomy and to assess the effectiveness ofstate measures undertaken to reduce itssize. The direct tax burden, thebroadly defined regulatory burden, thecomplexity of the tax system, andsoft-budget constraints for enterprises are found tobe important causes of unofficial activity.The main explanatory factors forthe estimated decline of the shadow economyin recent years are explained and it is argued that theevidence has implications beyond the caseof Ukraine.     

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Between Appeasement and Belligerent Moralism: The Evolution of Moral Conduct in International Politics

Public Choice - What are the conditions for ``moral'' conduct in internationalpolitics to be viable? This question is explored by modelingregional conflicts as a two-stage game in which...     

Performing New Values: Fashion Brands in Post-Socialist Bulgaria

In post-socialist societies, marketing and consumption play a crucial role for what is regarded as value. Assuming ‘consumer capitalism’ as an important feature of the neoliberal project, I argue that marketing theories and practices produce market societies in Eastern and Central Europe. To highlight the reflexive adaptation of ‘consumer capitalism’ by producers, marketers and consumers, this essay discusses fashion brand promotion in Bulgaria. The case studies illustrate how the transformation of modes of valuation can be understood as a process of performative modernisation and marketisation. It appears that the ‘local’ adjustment of ‘global’ concepts of marketing and consumption leads to new formations of value in spatial, temporal and subjective terms.