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Events-December 03/2007

On December 17 next press conference within the framework of the project “Alternative Inflation Methodology Development” implemented with financial support of USAID and organizational support of Eurasia Foundation by Economic Research Center (ERC). Chairman of the ERC Management Board Gubad Ibadoglu told that inflation rate was 25.65% for last 11 months according to the reults of statistical researches. The highest inflation level has been observed in service field among commodity groups which was 37.56%. This indicator has been 24.31% on food products, 19.09% on non-food products. Only in November consumer price index has been 3.50%. Thehighest inflation rate has been 4.85% on food products.

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Projects-December 12/2009

Economic Research Center has launched implementation of “Alternative Inflation Rate and Model Development”project since December 1 of 2009. The project is financed by the Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Co-operation (SECO). Its noteworthy, that this is the first cooperation of SECO with civil society institutes in Azerbaijan. It is intended to prepare monthly inflation report and quarterly economic review by the Economic Research Center at the initial stage. One of the main project directions is to build econometric model for measuring impact level of factors influencing to inflation level in Azerbaijan and working out of inflation forecast for future. Along with this, it is planned to popularize “Family inflation calculator” (www.inf.erc-az.org), organize enlightenment campaigns, seminars, conferences, TV Talk shows and radiodebates. Calculation of consumer price index on separate regions and sectors, preparing of indicators of prognosis and factors periodically are main products of the project.

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Projects-August 11/2008

The Economic Research Center (ERC) presents the results of the June month of this year’s statistical price observations. This research was conducted with the partially financed by Think Thank Fund OSI, Budapest within the framework of Institutional Core Funding, in 11 districts of Azerbaijan as a part of ERC’s Alternative Inflation Methodology Development Project. According to the price observations on July of 2008, Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Azerbaijan was calculated at a rate of 0.72 % with Baku being 0.44 % and districts -1.09 %. The highest inflation rate on commodity groups was observed in food items — 0.91%, non-food items – 0.67%, and in service sector – 0.29%.According ERC researches consumer price index (CPI) during 7 months of this year was 15.58%. Yearly inflation made 29.01% as compared July of this year with the previous years.

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Projects-April & May 04-05/2009

Economic Research Center published “Citizen Report Card: from Public opinion to real policy” book within the “Strengthening local-self governments in Azerbaijan” project financed by “Oxfam” Great Britain and Netherland’s ICCO organizations. Information about citizen report card survey of the Center conducted within the project in municipalities of Agjabadi, Tartar, Barda districts, and its role in increasing of public participation in local-selfgovernments were reflected in this book. Note, that on November of 2008 Citizen Report Card (CRC) survey was conducted within the project in Ranjbarlar, Galabadin municipalities of Agjabadi district, I Garadamirchi, Daymadagildi, Muganli, Mustafaagali, Garatapa, Mollali municipalities of Barda district, Ismayilbayli of Tartar
district and in the area of Sahlabad municipalities.

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Current projects

Implemented projects

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ERC has completed the implementation of the project on the “Increasing of public awareness regarding with the implementation of the state program on education of Azerbaijani youth abroad in the years 2007-2015”

With the financial support of the U.S.Embassy in Azerbaijan, the Economic Researches Center (ERC) has completed the implementation of the project on the “Increasing of public awareness regarding with the implementation of the state program on education of Azerbaijani youth abroad in the years 2007-2015”. The main objective of the project was to increase transparency and accountability  in the implemtation process of the “State Program on Education of Azerbaijani Youth Abroad in the Years 2007-2015” approved  by the President of Azerbaijan Republic on April 16, 2007, and enable to create equal terms and conditions to all young people, who has necessary knowledge and skills.

Our activities

Past projects

During last two years, ERC’s activities were fruitful and successful. In order to reach its strategy goals, the Center implemented more than 30 projects within last 2 years. New donors were involved to implement these projects and so there was achieved diversity of donors. The World Bank, USAID, Counterpart, CHF, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Azerbaijan, Fredrich Ebert Foundation, State Council for assistance to NGOs are in the list of donors that the Center was cooperating within last 2 years. Besides, the Center also continued its cooperation with its previous donors (USAID, OSI, Oxfam GB, ICCO, WLI,  Counterpart International, Eurasia, Partnership Foundation, Council for Economic Education).

Our activities

ERC has got rich base not only for the data produced by itself but also for data officially and unofficially obtained from statistical organs. Monthly volume of the data Center collects twice a month from 88 subjects in 22 regions on 585 product items as a result of statistical monitoring on the prices starting from 2007 is more than 10 thousand characters. The Center collects data in this sphere for more than 3 years and their volume is about 10 Million  characters.

Problems of Fiscal Equalization and Decentralization of Local Governments in Azerbaijan

On December 2004, Azerbaijan witnessed the second term of elections for municipalities. Unfortunately, it seems that the country lost the chance to design appropriate institutions for local governing over the last five years. Although current legislation envisages that municipalities of poor financial capacity should receive aid from the state budget, no principle for its distribution is provided. In addition, it is noteworthy that a decree was needed to tackle the major problems municipalities faced. This paper proposes reforms to improve the fiscal capacity of the municipalities, including amendments of the taxing principle, tax base and tax collection, as well as modernization of a government subsidy allocation mechanism. The last entails consideration of expenditure needs and the poverty level of the municipalities.

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Projects- August 08/2009

On August 14, 2009 Economic Research Center (ERC) presented statistical findings of prices on July of 2009 in 11 regions of Azerbaijan within the “Calculation of Alternative Inflation Level” program implemented within the Institutional Support project of OSI Budapest Foundation. Statistical observations indicate that there was observed 0.59% growth in consumer price index (CPI) in Azerbaijan in July. Inflation was 0.47% in Baku, in regions – 0.71%.Though there was observed deflation in food (0.16%) and non-food products (0.86%) but price increase in service sector (4.45%) resulted with inflation in July. ERC considers it as a result of double price increase in gas sold to population from the 1st of July by Tariff Council. On July the most price decrease on commodity groups was observed in fruit-vegetables (3.14%). The most price increase as mentioned above was observed in service, as well as in milk and milk products, egg (4.13%).

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Internal News

Seminar on “ To carry out advocacy on local management” has been held by Oxfam in the hotel “Diplomat” in 21st april of 2008 year. ERC’s expert on municipalities Tural Mammadov, executive official on quality control Nurana Ismayilova, executive official on human resources Jeyran Nasibova, and executive official on international relations Parvana Persiani took part in the training. Trainer Emin Amrullayev spoke about European Council’s standards on local management, local management and European Charter( processes, claims, and main components), conference of local and international regional structures, targets of advocacy activity and how to contact them.

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Economy of Azerbaijan in 2009

The new issue of informational and analytical bulletin “Azerbaijan Economic Trends” has been published, where the dynamics, qualitative changes and tendencies that have taken place in the country’s economy during the year 2009 are analyzed. The publication has been issued in two languages (Azeri, English). Official statistical data and ERC alternative calculation serves as the initial source of information. The review consists of four thematical chapters. The first chapter considers the main macroeconomic indicators: economic growth, investments into the economy, as well as the situation in the foreign trade. The second chapter analyzes the revenue and expense in the government budget, monetary policy of the Central Bank, banking sector, insurance market, stock market and exchange rate policy. The third chater describes the tendencies and issues in the development of industry and agricultural sector. The forth chapter is devoted to the forecasts in state budget and inflation rate for 2010. The publication is prepared for wide range of users: employees of government agencies, business, scientific research institutes and centers, public and international organizations, embassies’ staff, university professors and students, other interested individuals.his bulletin is made possible by the support of the State Secretariat of Economic Affairs SECO within the framework of “Calculation of alternative inflations level and development of models” implemented by Economic Research Center (ERC). The content of this bulletin are the sole responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily the views of SECO or the Switzerland Government

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