Reflections

About deception and covert

Instruments such as the convertibility regime, the exchange rate, the interest rate, the fiscal balance and the degree of external openness have been given the character of objectives. This results in two things: firstly, that the instruments are not discussed, because they are now the objectives that must be met and not questioned; second, that the real objectives (from our point of view, social homogeneity, fairer distribution of income, improvement of education and health, industrialization, defense of the national interest) disappear from the debate. As such, there is nothing to discuss.

Alfredo Calcagno (quoted by Diego Rubinzal)

About the role of public banking

Public banking emerges as a fundamental and particularly efficient instrument, as it constitutes an arm of direct action for the implementation of those policies that promote economic development and social inclusion from the financial sector. So much so, that in most countries of the developed world there are official banks or financial institutions with public participation that carry out functions of promoting productive and social activities, as well as contributing to the financing of the consumption of the lower income sectors.

Pablo Caramelo

About “no money” in Argentina

The middle and popular classes are responsible for 31 percent of state expenditures. Meanwhile, the upper class and big business are responsible for the remaining 69 percent. Mercado Libre’s tax exemption, for example, would be enough to cover the expenses of universities across the country for a year. The data was prepared by the consulting firm PxQ, directed by Emmanuel Álvarez Agis, and recently released by the Cenital news portal.

Of the total tax collection in 2023, 35 percent came from VAT, which is paid by society as a whole. Twice as much as income tax and Social Security. Four times the tax on debits and credits or the export duties of the few companies that have that privilege. Personal property tax contributes only 2 percent of total revenue. That is to say, in addition to receiving a smaller proportion of the expenses, the middle and lower classes pay with their taxes the perks of the State to the concentrated business sector. It is not that there is no money, but that it is used for other purposes.

Tomás Astelarra