East Europe GNP Growth 2.5 Times Stronger OUTSIDE the EU: is Ukraine's Euro-Dream Just a Dream?
As Crimeans vote in Sunday's referendum, one thing on their mind will be the economic prospects of the choice of Russia or Ukraine. Ukraine's biggest problem is lack of economic growth - the slowest of any post-Soviet republic:
Meanwhile, Ukraine's post-Soviet neighbors outside the EU have put in some pretty impressive performances. So is EU membership really going to help Ukraine?
The EU experience has disappointed many people in Eastern Europe. But what hard data are there to compare the growth performance of Eastern European countries inside and outside the EU? For a quick comparison of EU vs. non-EU countries, I compiled the latest available data from Wikipedia's list of GNP growth by country.
This is what I found: Average 2012 GNP growth for eastern European countries that are outside the EU was 3.1%; while for eastern European countries inside the EU it was only 1.2%. That's 2.5 times as strong outside the EU as in it.
For the EU as a whole, GNP growth was negative at -0.4 to -0.7%.
This sort of begs the question, why would anyone want to join the EU? How is the EU going to help Ukraine when they can't even help themselves? Europe is looking for more customers, not more cut-price competitors.
The best deal for Ukraine would be for its citizens to have visa-free travel to Europe, but without giving the EU, IMF and Wall Street control over their assets and economy.
Table - 2012 GNP growth, Eastern Europe, in %
No doubt, economists could write reams refining these rather rough-and-ready statistics. But it wouldn't would change much. The simple fact is that Russia cares far more about Ukraine than Europe does, and is in a lot better position to help, too.
Here's one more interesting figure, though, from the World Bank:
Income per capita (GNI) growth, 2002-2012
European Union 187%
Russian Federation 605%
Ultimately the Ukraine crisis is about the failure of oligarchical systems to deliver the goods. Not too long ago, the US and EU excelled at providing a better life for their middle classes. But decades of rising inequality, corporate greed, rigged democracy, and squeezing the workers and the poor, have all taken their toll. They can no longer deliver the dream they are selling. That makes it harder to keep rising Russia down. Over the last decade, personal income has grown more than three times as fast in Russia as in the EU.
The banking interests try to keep their casino going by plundering one nation after another -- especially any that don't play the game, and strive to become strong and independent through populism and nationalism. They are attacking now on three continents at once, targeting Syria, Ukraine/Russia, and Venezuela for their meat grinder.
If the vultures are defeated on these fronts, it will be a victory for economies and governments of the people, by the people and for the people everywhere.
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