20/10/2006 6:49:44 am
Nordic Model for Slovakia? Slovakia is one of the most successful among the reformist countries in Eastern and Central Europe. I have frequently mentioned its 19 per cent flat tax, which, together with other free-market reforms created economic success. Slovakia turned into the biggest car producer in the world per capita, for example.

Oddly, the reformers lost to the left in the last election, which now governs together with some old corrupt and some new xenophobic politicians. The Economist wrote a surprised analysis of the current political problems in most of these reformist countries, calling the politicians: "Weak, deceitful, clownish, boorish, squabbling, thuggish and corrupt."

If this is more than a temporary event and if further reforms will be more than delayed remains uncertain. In any case, I am now leaving for Bratislava, bringing the message that neither Slovakia nor the rest of Eastern and Central Europe should copy the so-called European Social Model. And from the Nordic countries, only the free-market reforms are worth following.