For these presidential elections, unlike others, the economic situation has become one of the axes. Several of the central themes have been employment, economic recovery, the need for a pension reform and a new tax reform. And although the candidates have put the economic agenda at the center of the debate, for the academy the proposals must be focused and it is necessary to delve into several issues.
Portafolio consulted César Tamayo, Dean of the School of Economics and Finance at Eafit University; Jorge Raúl Serrano, Dean of the Faculty of Economic, Administrative and Accounting Sciences of the Autonomous University of Bucaramanga (Unab); Marcela Eslava, Dean of Economics at the Universidad de los Andes; Julio César Alfonso, director of the Center for Research in Economics and Finance (Cienfi) of the Icesi University, in Cali, and Julián Arévalo, dean of the Externado University’s Faculty of Economics.
Cesar Tamayo
Dean of the School of Economics and Finance. Efit University
“I think we are on the right track to talk about the things that are really important to people: taxes, public goods, pensions, health, trade policy. It contrasts with other elections in which we talked about former presidents, about peace agreements.
Must talk about the fiscal balance, tax progressivity, corporate income taxes, pensions and trade policy. All this is being talked about. We are devoting valuable time and energy to talking about health, and instead we are not devoting attention to education. I also believe that we are not devoting enough attention to the labor issue; we have the fresh results of a great Employment Mission and we are not discussing them in depth in the campaign. We are not talking about internationalization and growth of companies”.
Jorge Raul Serrano
Dean, Economic, Administrative and Accounting Sciences of the UNAB.
“The first thing that must be considered is the economic model itself, the model that is required for the development and growth of the country, how they are going to face the different reforms that are pending and that are necessary to carry out, labor, pension. A clear approach and proposals are expected to address the issues of infrastructure, agribusiness, key sectors such as tourism and mining.
Support is required for high-quality education, coverage and access with viable financing plans for the professional future, and together with this, formal labor insertion through incentives for the productive sector for hiring. Lastly, the health sector model, greater coverage, quality, but financially viable. All of the above must be accompanied by a very clear anti-corruption policy”.
Marcela Eslava
Dean of the Faculty of Economics of the Universidad de los Andes.
“The most pressing issues in the Colombian economy are inequality, low productivity and low state capacity. Inequality and low productivity are highly linked and related to a labor protection system that is based on imposing very high costs on formal work. Some of the great reforms that must be made are so that the labor protection and social protection systems are not burdened, it is necessary to move burdens such as direct fiscal costs.
In the state or fiscal capacity we have a structural problem, a state whose revenue collection capacity is low. It is essential to think of a state with a more efficient tax structure, with fewer exemptions and less emphasis on taxation of the business sector”.
Julius Caesar Alfonso
Dir. Center for Research in Economics and Finance of the Icesi University.
“The debate between the presidential candidates has not taken off in economic terms, we have not heard many proposals and it is important that they become more serious in order to understand their economic visions.
It would be ideal to see more discussion about the financing of the State, how to balance the national budget, and what kind of fiscal reform they have in mind. Another very important issue is the financing of territorial entities, municipalities and departments and what the candidates are thinking about it.
It is also important to look at the pension system, although it is an issue that has been mentioned, the discussion quickly stopped, and an in-depth discussion is required on this. And the discussion about how to improve the country’s competitiveness is very important”.
Julian Arevalo
Dean, Faculty of Economics of the Externado University.
“A good part of the debates have been characterized by attacks, rather than concrete proposals. The possibility of listening to proposals in depth and delving into the ideas and proposals of each one is lacking.
There is a crucial issue for the country’s economy in the coming years, the fiscal issue, a tax reform and what elements it would have. They are talking about pensions, but it would be worth going deeper into it. In the workplace, proposals are needed to correct structural problems, and of course, there is that associated with the economic model, the role of agriculture, the export sector and hydrocarbons.
An issue that should be put on the table is legal certainty for foreign companies operating in the country. In all these issues more needs to be known in relation to the proposals of the candidates”.
LAURA LUCIA BECERRA ELEJALDE
BRIEFCASE
