EMPLOYMENT AND ECONOMIC POLICIES OF ARMENIA ARE NOT IN KEEPING WITH EACH OTHER, ECONOMIST EDWARD AGHAJANOV SAYS

Noyan Tapan
May 1, 2008

YEREVAN, MAY 1, NOYAN TAPAN. The structure of the population’s
employment in any country depends on the economic structure of the
given country but in Armenia the employment and economic policies are
not in keeping with each other, economist Edward Aghajanov expressed an
opinion at the May 1 press conference. According to him, the intention
of the Armenian authorities to create a knowledge-based – innovation
economy should result in a change of the structure of employment and
labor in the country: the appropriate specialists are needed for the
country’s innovation economic development.

"Is there a speciality, is there a higher educational institution in
Armenia that prepares personnel for 21st century’s economy?" he asked.

In his words, the problem of obsolescence of knowledge currently exists
in the world. "The world is developing rapidly, with knowledge becoing
obsolescent in parallel with this," he remarked. In this respect,
45-55-year-olds have difficulty in finding a job. E. Aghajanov
said that the most successful solution to the problem was found
in the U.S. where a postgraduate education system was introduced,
which allows persons of the indicated age group to "refresh their
knowledge". No policy in this direction is conducted in Armenia.

Besides, according to E. Aghajanov, there is a problem of legalization
of jobs and salaries in Armenia. "Our country is unique in that 85
workers keep 100 pensioners, and this happens in the case when a
very low level of unemployment as compared with other countries –
7.1% is registered here," he said, adding that problem is in hidden
salaries and workers. He pointed out that in Armenia jobs are created
only through small business.

As for the minimum consumer basket, E. Aghajanov said that according
to official statistics, the average monthly salary makes 76,992 drams
(about 250 USD) in Armenia, which cannot ensure the minimum consumer
basket. Thus, in his words, a working man may also be poor.