Natasha Srdoc Think Tank Essentials Atlas

Atlas Liberty Forum Philadelphia, 2007“Think Tank Essentials”Expanding your Support Base: 

Atlas Liberty Forum Philadelphia, 2007 “Think Tank Essentials” Expanding your Support Base Natasha Srdoc, MBA Co-Founder and President Adriatic Institute for Public Policy International Leaders Summit on Economic Growth www.adriaticinstitute.org

Croatia: 

Croatia

Challenges in Southeast Europe  : 

Challenges in Southeast Europe Not upholding the rule of law Very low protection of property rights Widespread corruption Substantial levels of informal market activities Heavy regulation imposed on free enterprises, resulting in greater political corruption, and randomly applied regulation INTERNAL FACTORS

Challenges in Southeast Europe : 

Challenges in Southeast Europe EU Lack of focus on protection of property rights and rule of law as requirements for EU accession Plethora of EU regulation is undermining competition and free market reforms Margaret Thatcher, “I believe that the EU should also be pressed to stop undermining these countries’ agricultural sectors by dumping its products at their farmers’ expense.” EXTERNAL FACTORS

Challenges in Southeast Europe : 

Challenges in Southeast Europe EU Margaret Thatcher, “The governments of the applicant countries would be wise to find other ways to modernize their economies and expand their markets – ones which do not involve loss of sovereignty, the acceptance of German dominance, or piling costs on their industries.” EXTERNAL FACTORS

Challenges Related to Outside Influence – External Factors: 

Challenges Related to Outside Influence – External Factors USAID Initiated a project of “tripartite social dialogue” - government, big businesses tied to the govt., and trade unions through “National Competitiveness Board” - used today as an instrument to block major reforms in Croatia. Opposing the flat tax, further privatization and liberalization of the market in Croatia. Heavily promoting public-private partnership as a mode of further privatization. Financing local governments led by communists who are opposed to free market reforms. Half a billion American taxpayers’ dollars have been spent in Croatia by USAID.

Challenges Related to Outside Influence – External Factors: 

Challenges Related to Outside Influence – External Factors WORLD BANK EBRD Providing loans to national and municipal governments without questioning its leaderships’ records on corruption, protection of property rights and upholding the rule of law. Funding failed state-owned entities

Realities on the Ground: 

Realities on the Ground Factors: Heavy government involvement in the economy Lack of philanthropy Lack of support for policy change Government to government transfers = status quo Government funding = government agenda/control

Building A Network of Supporters: 

Building A Network of Supporters

Thinking out of the Box: 

Thinking out of the Box Strategic outreach to the Diaspora community 4.5 million Croatians living in Croatia Over 4 million Croatians living abroad Primary target audience – Croatian Americans: USA – spirit of volunteerism and giving Free market principles best understood

Network of Supporters: 

Network of Supporters DIASPORA – INVEST TIME & RESOURCES! Large Croatian-American Diaspora (CA, IL, MI, NJ, NY, OH and PA) Attending special events organized by diaspora Custom design events for Croatian community with US think tank leaders – Dr. Alvin Rabushka, Hoover Institution Directly approaching business leaders and focusing on relationship building Synergy factor – introducing Diaspora to Think Tanks in the USA and UK Encouraging dual support Showcasing the role of a think tank & what can be done back home IEA, IPN, The Heritage events

Adriatic Institute’s Progress in Changing the Climate of Opinion: 

Adriatic Institute’s Progress in Changing the Climate of Opinion Building awareness among citizens about the importance of liberty and free market reforms. “Flat Tax – Case for the tax reform in Croatia” proposing 15% flat tax – Hall-Rabushka model Political parties placing the tax system as the centerpiece of their economic programs. Opened the discussion and debate about the costs and benefits of joining the EU. (Blundell’s Open Letter to PM) Training a new generation of university students about economic freedom – events & media International media critically reporting on Croatia - questions of accountability and transparency raised

Adriatic Institute’s Progress in Changing the Climate of Opinion: 

Adriatic Institute’s Progress in Changing the Climate of Opinion Tapping into resources produced by think tanks – The Heritage Foundation and WSJ’s Index of Economic Freedom The third annual release of the Index led to a major national televised debate in Jan. 2007 with the Finance Minister of Croatia Kontraplan – TV program was shown in Croatia, spillover in Bosnia, Serbia and Slovenia , satellite broadcast to diaspora in the USA, Australia, NZ, Canada and Western Europe

Adriatic Institute’s Progress: 

Adriatic Institute’s Progress Strategic Media Outreach – over 150 journalists receive weekly updates Annualized International Leaders Summit on Economic Growth Adriatic Institute’s Business Council Launch of AI’s Libertas Debate Series - first event at The European Parliament, Brussels, October, 2006 Libertas - Online and Quarterly magazine - Coming Soon!

1st International Leaders Summit on Economic Growth 2004 Zagreb, Croatia: 

1st International Leaders Summit on Economic Growth 2004 Zagreb, Croatia

2nd International Leaders Summit on Economic Growth 2005: 

2nd International Leaders Summit on Economic Growth 2005

3rd International Leaders Summit on Economic Growth 2006: 

3rd International Leaders Summit on Economic Growth 2006

Mart Laar with Janez Jansa, Slovenia’s PM - Adriatic Institute’s event in Ljubljana, May 2006: 

Mart Laar with Janez Jansa, Slovenia’s PM - Adriatic Institute’s event in Ljubljana, May 2006 Mart Laar seated between PM Janez Jansa (on the left) and Finance Minister Dr. Bajuk Mart Laar’s inspiring speech about Estonia’s transformation delivered at the Ljubljana ILS economic summit was translated and will be distributed to every household in Slovenia.

SWOT Analysis of Think Tanks: 

SWOT Analysis of Think Tanks

What More Can Be Done?: 

What More Can Be Done? Fostering domestic “critical independent media” reaching electorate and taxpayers. Free market ideas reaching the households through the media, pamphlets, brochures: Mart Laar’s inspiring speech about Estonia’s transformation delivered at the Ljubljana ILS economic summit was translated and is being distributed to every household in Slovenia. Pressure on international financial organizations to follow through on basic requirements of rule of law, anti-corruption strategies and protection of property rights before any financing is provided. Better communication and coalition building efforts within the free market community to advance liberty. Convince and mobilize stakeholders within a country, who would most benefit from the free market reforms, for financial support.