Author
Denis Mancevič, PhD
The same is true for Slovenia: if we want to catch up with – let alone surpass – the most developed countries, it is not enough to run at the same speed as before. We must accelerate our pace much more than we are doing today.
Progress is measured in everyday micro-steps and concrete measures that can be implemented quickly, without waiting for EU funds or complex legislative procedures. What is needed above all is political will and operational capacity.
The race we are in is relentless. We are not only chasing Europe, which we can understand as the tortoise in the parable, but at the same time those who started behind us are catching up and overtaking us. The race is not being run on a single track, but on several parallel ones: for talent, for investment, for a skilled workforce, and for the attractiveness of the business environment. And what is crucial – victory is not determined only by major reforms, such as tax, healthcare, or pension reforms. Progress is measured in everyday micro-steps and concrete measures that can be implemented quickly, without waiting for EU funds or complex legislative procedures. What is needed above all is political will and operational capacity.
That there is less and less time to hesitate is confirmed by the indicators. Slovenia currently ranks 46th on the IMD World Competitiveness Ranking, one of the lowest positions in the past decade. Likewise, our average added value per employee has stalled at around 92 percent of the EU average (compared to just over 80 percent when we joined). This means that the process of catching up – so-called convergence – has come to a halt in recent years. Not only is the gap no longer narrowing, but there is even a risk it could begin to widen again.
There are many examples of how this trend could be reversed. Digitalization of public administration and education could simplify procedures and reduce bureaucracy. The education system could more quickly adapt to labor market changes and technological breakthroughs. Tax incentives and more business-friendly rules could help attract and retain talent. None of these measures require lengthy negotiations in Brussels, but decisions we can make here at home.
The race we are in is relentless. We are not only chasing Europe, which we can understand as the tortoise in the parable, but at the same time we are being caught up and overtaken by those who started behind us. The race is not being run on a single track, but on several parallel ones: for talent, for investment, for a skilled workforce, and for the attractiveness of the business environment.
What is crucial to understand is this: this is not Brussels’ job. It is not something that can be solved by geopolitical shifts or global trends. And it is not a task that can be endlessly postponed until major reforms are launched – reforms that are always accompanied by lengthy processes and often political blockades. This is our homework. A task we must complete ourselves. No one else will do it for us.
If we fail to grasp this, Achilles will chase the tortoise forever – Slovenia will remain stuck in place and time, condemned to eternal catching up. Instead of an ambitious strategy, we will be left with mere hope that tomorrow will be at least as good as today. But hope – as we know – is not a strategy.