THE GOVERNMENT of Robert Fico is dealing with almost none of the fundamental problems of society, is postponing necessary measures and is just 'riding comfortably on a running train.' That is the conclusion of The Institute for Economic and Social Studies (INEKO), which published its regular quarterly report on May 22. It reflects the opinion of an evaluation committee of experts on the quality and importance of selected economic and social performance measures in the legal and executive systems, as well as the decisions of public institutions in Slovakia.
The evaluation committee of 51 experts, comprising economists, analysts, lawyers, sociologists, politicians, journalists, entrepreneurs and representatives of employee organisations, academics and the third sector, concluded that the first quarter of this year has been the worst since the start of the evaluation project in 2000.
According to the experts, the most beneficial measure of the first quarter of 2008 was improvement and simplification of the duty imposed on certain groups of entrepreneurs to provide preventive medical check-ups for their employees. Among the worst measures with regard to social and economic development implemented in the same period was the so-called 'socket bill,' governing the financing of public media services.
