Mauvasia
16-05-2007, 22:53
[Target: Relevant corporations or individuals
Contents: Press release, 2 attachments]
[PRESS RELEASE]
The Dûriandor Herald
April 4, 2007
With recession on the horizon, Mauvasia to liberalise economy (Page 1)
Brian DeForge, Associate Editor
In a surprise move today, the Senate and the Grand Congress both approved a new bill set to make sweeping reforms to Mauvasian economic policies, including reductions in taxation and tariffs, a 50¢ decrease in the minimum wage, and certain other restrictions on business also slashed that, among other things, make it easier for foreign-based corporations to be established on Mauvasian soil.
The new law comes in the wake of a series of reforms to Mauvasia’s Unemployment Office and the budget reallocation transferring some of the funds spent on defence into welfare and labour programs, moves which their critics have claimed attack the symptoms rather than the problem itself: the Mauvasian recession, which the government has made only baby steps towards averting, say Conservative party spokespersons.
Congressional Speaker Luna D. Galen (C-Dûria) praised the motion, claiming that the new laws would prove to be “much friendlier to investors worldwide, not to mention at home”, in a press conference Monday evening. Nonetheless, many economists, especially more left-leaning economists, believe the new laws could undermine Mauvasia’s longstanding social-democratic system and open the market to foreign-controlled monopolies.
Dr Charles J Singer, one of the most vocal critics of the Friedmanesque laissez-faire economies of Mauvasian neighbours such as Questers and Praetonia, stated in a televised interview that “the reduction in regulation is the first step down a slippery slope that will only lead us deeper into corporate oppression.” He blamed major corporations’ wanton disregard for human rights in favour of profits for the economic recession that has left almost 120 million Mauvasians without a job, although it was unclear how exactly the two were related.
“Corporations desire only profit, and will tread on anyone they want to achieve it,” Dr Singer said. “Thus, even with our markets open, they are resistant to investing in Mauvasia simply because they find our concern for equality and freedom a barrier to their profitability.” Only an estimated 15% of the Mauvasian GDP is under the control of foreign companies; the new law, however, removes a longstanding provision that any corporation operating on Mauvasian soil must be run by Mauvasian citizens after no more than thirty months, a provision which the law’s critics said was necessary to ensure that no economic imperialism would occur.
In response to Dr Singer’s comments, Galen said, “The law does not ban the minimum wage; it does not repeal the antitrust laws; it does nothing more than make it easier for businesses attempting to contend with the rising inflation rate, the lack of investment, and the unemployment.” She added that the 550-page law would make obtaining government permits for establishing small businesses much easier, allowing the unemployed to start their own businesses.
The vote was divided largely along party lines; in the Grand Congress 226 of the 230 Conservative MCs voted in favour, whereas 221 of the 243 Liberals voted against. All nineteen Progressive MCs voted for the bill, whilst all thirteen Communist MCs voted against. The bill passed by a narrow margin, 265 to 240, with 3 abstaining. In the Senate it was similarly divided, with twenty-nine of the 34 votes in favour being cast by the twenty-nine Conservative Senators.
While 227 Capitol had no official comments, a spokesperson for the Jacobi administration said that the new law was “a sign of progress”. :::
[ATTACHMENT A: A summary of the relevant changes made by the DeVries-Chianxiu Act of 2007]
Commonwealth Business Tax has been reduced to 5.5% (from 8.25%). Republic Business Tax has been reduced to 3% (from 4.5%).
Tariffs on incoming goods reduced to 5% (from 8%).
Minimum wage reduced to NS$6.75 (from NS$7.25).
Businesses originating in nations outside of Mauvasia now may be run by citizens of any nation indefinitely, although at least 80% of employees must be Mauvasian citizens.
No single corporation or corporate conglomerate may own any more than twenty per cent (20%) of the market in its given industry, up from fifteen per cent (15%). A corporate conglomerate is hereby defined as a group of otherwise unaffiliated corporations owned by a single individual, group of individuals, or holding corporation.
The 18.5% flat tax formerly applied to corporations controlling 10-15% of the market now applies to those holding 10-20% of market shares.
A list of private industries available for investment is re-released as follows: retail, insurance, automobile manufacturing, arms manufacturing, information technology, mining, petroleum production and refining, gambling, agriculture, food, fishing, shipping.
A list of industries partnered with or subsidised by the Mauvasian government is re-released as follows: healthcare, housing, public transportation, hydroelectric production, communications, biotechnology, secondary education, tourism.
Any industries not listed are assumed to be under government control and thus unavailable for investment.
[ATTACHMENT B: From The Mauvasian People — An Economic Profile, R. Drake Farlane, 2003]
It was in that year [1986] that the Mauvasians first made contact with the outside world as it still stands today, and every year since then we have observed an increasing trend towards conservatism. Social conservatism, that is; the days of the radical youth groups and rallies are now long since over. From trigger-happy dictatorships such as Russian Forces to anarcho-capitalist states like Allanea, the people of Mauvasia observed that the world was quite full of nations to whom war was just another word and loss of human life was irrelevant at best.
To this day Mauvasians not only distrust weapons and those who own them, but (by and large) would not work for a company that manufactures them. It is estimated that only four per cent of Mauvasians even own guns. Likewise, thanks to the excellent state of public education, Mauvasians know a good deal about the environment and what threatens it, and would not in good conscience attempt to damage it. This in turn explains the preference for nuclear power and the scarcity of car owners.
Watching the existence of states such as MassPwnage has also taught Mauvasians the dangers of excess; while the Mauvasian people are generally moderate in political and social views at any rate, this translates – in economic terms – into ‘bigger is not always better’. 120-centimetre TV screens and thirty terabyte hard drives are frequently passed up; big action pictures and the like do poorly; massive casinos tend to go out of business much more quickly than small ones. Mauvasians are quiet and their business – especially the more morally questionable ones – is quieter.
The average Mauvasian is concerned for the environment, for sanitation, for moderation; but not necessarily for appearance, cost, ideological agenda, and so on. Billion-dollar ventures that promote science and knowledge are praised; ... [television] shows promoting appearance or other superficial talents are not. Many ten-year-olds would rather be in R&D than firefighting. Competition for government contracts is highest in biotech and nanotech, followed by medical; in the private sector hydrogen-powered automobiles and organic food are top priorities on everyone’s list.
[several pages later]
What do these facts bode? Delving into Asimov’s imagined psychohistory, it seems likely that the power of the Mauvasian monarch shall increase dramatically, from the mere ceremonial title and bit of land that position entails today to a more active voice in the administration of Mauvasia’s political and governmental landscape. I could, if you like, pinpoint various figures that might rise to prominence in the next ten or twenty years, but that would be rather presumptuous of me; it is highly likely that the Conservative Party will come to power in the 2004 or 2008 elections and stay there, bringing with it greater economic liberty and signaling the possible end of what economists have termed the “social-democrat era”.
Many will doubtlessly claim that these changes, however inevitable, will turn Mauvasia into the extreme opposite, what has been termed a “night-watchman state”. I am confident, however, that rather than oscillating to one end or another of the spectrum Mauvasia will only become more moderate, swinging between left or right with governmental shifts but never quite reaching either, unless a particularly drastic change in the Mauvasian mindset occurs.
[END OF ATTACHMENTS]
[OOC: All right, here are the rules:
1) In the private sector, simply use the information given you to start a reasonably sized business (employing X number of people). You can either RP buying the plot of land whence your business will be started/hiring workers to build it/franchising it out to a Mauvasian, or simply make note of its creation in an IC news article or conversation with your CEO or something.
2) In the partnered/subsidised industries, you’ll need to send a letter to the government of the region in which you plan to start off (either the federal government, in which case it’d be addressed to the Department of Finance, or the local government, in which case it’d be addressed to the provincial legislature/governor’s office). It may take anywhere between two hours and two years for the Mauvasian Government to get you a response, however.
3) spel rite + ues corect grammer n puncutation plz
And that’s it.]
Contents: Press release, 2 attachments]
[PRESS RELEASE]
The Dûriandor Herald
April 4, 2007
With recession on the horizon, Mauvasia to liberalise economy (Page 1)
Brian DeForge, Associate Editor
In a surprise move today, the Senate and the Grand Congress both approved a new bill set to make sweeping reforms to Mauvasian economic policies, including reductions in taxation and tariffs, a 50¢ decrease in the minimum wage, and certain other restrictions on business also slashed that, among other things, make it easier for foreign-based corporations to be established on Mauvasian soil.
The new law comes in the wake of a series of reforms to Mauvasia’s Unemployment Office and the budget reallocation transferring some of the funds spent on defence into welfare and labour programs, moves which their critics have claimed attack the symptoms rather than the problem itself: the Mauvasian recession, which the government has made only baby steps towards averting, say Conservative party spokespersons.
Congressional Speaker Luna D. Galen (C-Dûria) praised the motion, claiming that the new laws would prove to be “much friendlier to investors worldwide, not to mention at home”, in a press conference Monday evening. Nonetheless, many economists, especially more left-leaning economists, believe the new laws could undermine Mauvasia’s longstanding social-democratic system and open the market to foreign-controlled monopolies.
Dr Charles J Singer, one of the most vocal critics of the Friedmanesque laissez-faire economies of Mauvasian neighbours such as Questers and Praetonia, stated in a televised interview that “the reduction in regulation is the first step down a slippery slope that will only lead us deeper into corporate oppression.” He blamed major corporations’ wanton disregard for human rights in favour of profits for the economic recession that has left almost 120 million Mauvasians without a job, although it was unclear how exactly the two were related.
“Corporations desire only profit, and will tread on anyone they want to achieve it,” Dr Singer said. “Thus, even with our markets open, they are resistant to investing in Mauvasia simply because they find our concern for equality and freedom a barrier to their profitability.” Only an estimated 15% of the Mauvasian GDP is under the control of foreign companies; the new law, however, removes a longstanding provision that any corporation operating on Mauvasian soil must be run by Mauvasian citizens after no more than thirty months, a provision which the law’s critics said was necessary to ensure that no economic imperialism would occur.
In response to Dr Singer’s comments, Galen said, “The law does not ban the minimum wage; it does not repeal the antitrust laws; it does nothing more than make it easier for businesses attempting to contend with the rising inflation rate, the lack of investment, and the unemployment.” She added that the 550-page law would make obtaining government permits for establishing small businesses much easier, allowing the unemployed to start their own businesses.
The vote was divided largely along party lines; in the Grand Congress 226 of the 230 Conservative MCs voted in favour, whereas 221 of the 243 Liberals voted against. All nineteen Progressive MCs voted for the bill, whilst all thirteen Communist MCs voted against. The bill passed by a narrow margin, 265 to 240, with 3 abstaining. In the Senate it was similarly divided, with twenty-nine of the 34 votes in favour being cast by the twenty-nine Conservative Senators.
While 227 Capitol had no official comments, a spokesperson for the Jacobi administration said that the new law was “a sign of progress”. :::
[ATTACHMENT A: A summary of the relevant changes made by the DeVries-Chianxiu Act of 2007]
Commonwealth Business Tax has been reduced to 5.5% (from 8.25%). Republic Business Tax has been reduced to 3% (from 4.5%).
Tariffs on incoming goods reduced to 5% (from 8%).
Minimum wage reduced to NS$6.75 (from NS$7.25).
Businesses originating in nations outside of Mauvasia now may be run by citizens of any nation indefinitely, although at least 80% of employees must be Mauvasian citizens.
No single corporation or corporate conglomerate may own any more than twenty per cent (20%) of the market in its given industry, up from fifteen per cent (15%). A corporate conglomerate is hereby defined as a group of otherwise unaffiliated corporations owned by a single individual, group of individuals, or holding corporation.
The 18.5% flat tax formerly applied to corporations controlling 10-15% of the market now applies to those holding 10-20% of market shares.
A list of private industries available for investment is re-released as follows: retail, insurance, automobile manufacturing, arms manufacturing, information technology, mining, petroleum production and refining, gambling, agriculture, food, fishing, shipping.
A list of industries partnered with or subsidised by the Mauvasian government is re-released as follows: healthcare, housing, public transportation, hydroelectric production, communications, biotechnology, secondary education, tourism.
Any industries not listed are assumed to be under government control and thus unavailable for investment.
[ATTACHMENT B: From The Mauvasian People — An Economic Profile, R. Drake Farlane, 2003]
It was in that year [1986] that the Mauvasians first made contact with the outside world as it still stands today, and every year since then we have observed an increasing trend towards conservatism. Social conservatism, that is; the days of the radical youth groups and rallies are now long since over. From trigger-happy dictatorships such as Russian Forces to anarcho-capitalist states like Allanea, the people of Mauvasia observed that the world was quite full of nations to whom war was just another word and loss of human life was irrelevant at best.
To this day Mauvasians not only distrust weapons and those who own them, but (by and large) would not work for a company that manufactures them. It is estimated that only four per cent of Mauvasians even own guns. Likewise, thanks to the excellent state of public education, Mauvasians know a good deal about the environment and what threatens it, and would not in good conscience attempt to damage it. This in turn explains the preference for nuclear power and the scarcity of car owners.
Watching the existence of states such as MassPwnage has also taught Mauvasians the dangers of excess; while the Mauvasian people are generally moderate in political and social views at any rate, this translates – in economic terms – into ‘bigger is not always better’. 120-centimetre TV screens and thirty terabyte hard drives are frequently passed up; big action pictures and the like do poorly; massive casinos tend to go out of business much more quickly than small ones. Mauvasians are quiet and their business – especially the more morally questionable ones – is quieter.
The average Mauvasian is concerned for the environment, for sanitation, for moderation; but not necessarily for appearance, cost, ideological agenda, and so on. Billion-dollar ventures that promote science and knowledge are praised; ... [television] shows promoting appearance or other superficial talents are not. Many ten-year-olds would rather be in R&D than firefighting. Competition for government contracts is highest in biotech and nanotech, followed by medical; in the private sector hydrogen-powered automobiles and organic food are top priorities on everyone’s list.
[several pages later]
What do these facts bode? Delving into Asimov’s imagined psychohistory, it seems likely that the power of the Mauvasian monarch shall increase dramatically, from the mere ceremonial title and bit of land that position entails today to a more active voice in the administration of Mauvasia’s political and governmental landscape. I could, if you like, pinpoint various figures that might rise to prominence in the next ten or twenty years, but that would be rather presumptuous of me; it is highly likely that the Conservative Party will come to power in the 2004 or 2008 elections and stay there, bringing with it greater economic liberty and signaling the possible end of what economists have termed the “social-democrat era”.
Many will doubtlessly claim that these changes, however inevitable, will turn Mauvasia into the extreme opposite, what has been termed a “night-watchman state”. I am confident, however, that rather than oscillating to one end or another of the spectrum Mauvasia will only become more moderate, swinging between left or right with governmental shifts but never quite reaching either, unless a particularly drastic change in the Mauvasian mindset occurs.
[END OF ATTACHMENTS]
[OOC: All right, here are the rules:
1) In the private sector, simply use the information given you to start a reasonably sized business (employing X number of people). You can either RP buying the plot of land whence your business will be started/hiring workers to build it/franchising it out to a Mauvasian, or simply make note of its creation in an IC news article or conversation with your CEO or something.
2) In the partnered/subsidised industries, you’ll need to send a letter to the government of the region in which you plan to start off (either the federal government, in which case it’d be addressed to the Department of Finance, or the local government, in which case it’d be addressed to the provincial legislature/governor’s office). It may take anywhere between two hours and two years for the Mauvasian Government to get you a response, however.
3) spel rite + ues corect grammer n puncutation plz
And that’s it.]