Colombia no va a terminar como Venezuela: Jeffrey Sachs, economista estadounidense
Viviana Marcela Gómez Gilvivianagomezgil
Hoy
Tras la posesión de Gustavo Petro como presidente de Colombia, La W conversó con Jeffrey Sachs, economista y profesor estadounidense, sobre las preocupaciones en la economía del país.
En la conversación se refirió a las críticas de algunos sectores políticos, quienes consideran que Colombia podría terminar como Venezuela. Sin embargo, el experto rechazó dicha afirmación.
“Es un tema complicado, Colombia no va a terminar como Venezuela, pero hay que entender que la crisis de Venezuela tiene que ver con las sanciones de Estados Unidos. Impuso sanciones muy fuertes y la decisión la tomó por propósitos políticos domésticos”, aseguró Sachs.
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También indicó que la situación económica en el mundo es crítica y ver una política menos agresiva por parte de países como Estados Unidos podría mejorar ese panorama.
¿Qué opina de una reforma tributaria?
A propósito de la reforma tributaria que el gobierno de Gustavo Petro radicará en la mañana de este 8 de agosto, indicó que ve con “confianza” que esté liderada por José Antonio Ocampo.
“Los impuestos son necesarios para garantizar los servicios sociales, el país necesita una base de impuestos fuerte. José Antonio Ocampo es uno de los economistas más capacitados a nivel mundial, tengo mucha confianza en la reforma tributaria que va a adelantar el nuevo Gobierno”, expresó Sachs.
Educación y energías limpias
El reconocido economista estadounidense también se refirió a las promesas del gobierno Petro en materia educativa. Según contó, conoce de cerca a Alejandro Gaviria y aseguró que “la educación es la inversión más importante en Colombia y en cualquier país”.
En cuanto a las energías limpias, dijo que es una de las promesas de la nueva administración y particularmente Colombia tiene grandes posibilidades en ese sentido.
“Colombia tiene todo el potencial en energías limpias, con un sol brillante, aire, poder hidroeléctrico. Puede convertirse en un factor dinámico en la economía”, dijo.
En el encabezado escuche la entrevista completa con Jeffrey Sachs, economista y profesor estadounidense.
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Transcript
W Radio
Professor Sachs, thank you very much for your time today at W Radio. Since you're in Colombia right now and everything that's happening with the new president, the first question would be: How do you see the economic future of Colombia, with Gustavo Petro as the new president?
Jeffrey Sachs
We're here to celebrate and I think that the President Petro has put forward very positive and very exciting ideas, really for a peaceful and inclusive Colombia, and one that is going to accelerate its economic development. I was visiting the Pacific Region in recent days, meeting with mayors and citizens and academics. And there's a lot of excitement, a lot of belief that this country can really move forward and I'm very excited, too.
W Radio
Professor Sachs, we want to speak to you about one of the promises that the new government has made. And it's in terms of replacing the energetic money that Colombia receives, specifically from oil, gas. Colombia receives huge amounts of money from oil and gas, and the President wants to replace it. Do you believe that it's possible to replace this income of money as the new president-elect has said?
Jeffrey Sachs
Every country in the world now has to change the energy system, because that is the key to combating the climate change, which is causing so much harm. Just yesterday, the United States Senate passed a law to incentivize wind power, solar power, hydropower. The good thing about Colombia is it's got everything in renewable energy; so much sunshine, so much wind potential, hydroelectric power, that this is not only feasible, it's going to be a very dynamic part of the Colombian economy, but also all through South America in the years to come. But I have to say that what President Petro explained yesterday is being said by every country in the world, because this is a global energy change that is needed for global climate safety.
W Radio
Today, Professor Sachs, the first topic of conversation in Congress will be taxes, tax reform. A tax reform which plans to impose bigger amounts of taxes to those who make more money. Some people believe there is a some risk at doing this, a risk about productivity and employment. Because when companies face this new tax, they're going to either reduce employment or transfer these new taxes to consumers. Do you believe that this is true, that a tax reform like this would end up harming productivity and employment, or do you believe this is more of a myth for those that are scared of a tax reform?
Jeffrey Sachs
In general, the taxes are needed so that the government can ensure quality education, quality infrastructure, all the things that are needed for good jobs, and for truly an inclusive society. So every country needs to have a strong tax base so that it can provide the vital social services, education, health care, and infrastructure for a strong economy. So in this sense, taxes are necessary. I am very confident, also, in your new government, which has one of the most respected finance ministers in the whole world, Jose Antonio Ocampo, who is world-renowned and world-respected and a close colleague of mine. I know that he will help to guide a tax policy that is productive, and that supports a dynamic and fair economy. But this is a very important measure because governments need the revenue so that they can ensure the education, the health care, and the infrastructure of the country.
W Radio
Professor Sachs, your link with Colombia is extensive at this point. It's been, you know, there for quite some time. There's institutions that have been created with, you know, with a mindset of development. And the question would be: The Minister of Education is going to be Alejandro Gaviria. Do you believe that this is a guarantee that the principle of development is going to be the back topic, the background of the Ministry of Education?
Jeffrey Sachs
I can tell you how thrilled I am that Alejandro Gaviria will be the Minister of Education. He's a wonderful person. He has been a wonderful colleague of mine in the work on the Sustainable Development Goals. And he knows, and his colleagues know, that education is the single most important investment. Really, I want to underscore it: the single most important investment, for Colombia and in fact for any country. And we have had a chance to meet a couple of times in the last days, in recent days, and I know that he will be extremely active and innovative in ensuring that quality education is available for all Colombians. It's very exciting, and it's an extremely important portfolio.
W Radio
You have also dedicated lots of amount of time, Professor Sachs, to studying the situation of Venezuela. We believe you did it along with another economist Ricardo Hossman. And speaking about Venezuela, in Colombia, there is, you know, a scare specifically during the campaign era. A lot of people believe that Gustavo Petro, or would say that Gustavo Petro could take Colombia to economic scenario like the one we see in Venezuela. The question would be: do you believe that this is possible? Or more than that, what is the difference between Colombia and Venezuela, and the future, so that, you know, Colombia doesn't end up like Venezuela?
Jeffrey Sachs
That's a very complicated topic because, first of all, Colombia is not going to end up like Venezuela. But we should understand that Venezuela's crisis was caused in significant part by the United States actually. This is a little surprising, but unfortunately, the United States took an extremely aggressive position against Venezuela and even supported a coup attempt many years ago and then put harsh sanctions on Venezuela. This was done for domestic US political purposes, not because of what Venezuela was doing, but because of domestic US politics. So I have believed that the United States unnecessarily divided Latin America. I want to see Latin America more united, and I want the United States not to put sanctions on countries that create economic crisis. This is not going to happen in Colombia, and the sanctions against Venezuela in my opinion, should be taken off so that there could be normal business, normal relationships, and refugees can go back to a country in Venezuela in a functioning economy.
W Radio
You sound, Professor, very optimistic about the future, Gustavo Petro's presidency. But how much of this future being a good future depends on the economic reality of the world? Every day we're seeing that it's toughening it up a little bit more.
Jeffrey Sachs
This is exactly correct. The world situation is not good right now. Again, mainly because of politics, not because of economics. There should never have been a war in Ukraine. It did not have to happen. The United States and Russia should have negotiated with each other, but the United States refused negotiation. There should not be tension between the United States and China, but unfortunately, the United States is putting too many criticisms and sanctions on China. And so there's too much tension in the world. We need cooperation. If there is more cooperation, more peace, less sanctions, less pressure, less aggressive US foreign policy, we actually will have a better world economy and a better prospect for development.
W Radio
Yesterday, they spoke a lot about Latin American unity. And even the president of the Congress spoke about the possibility of having one currency, one currency for different states in Latin America. What do you believe about this? Do you think this is possible? Is it a good idea?
Jeffrey Sachs
Well, that's an idea that would be a long way off. We're quite far from that. But what is the right idea is much closer cooperation in Latin America. The region has been divided for many reasons, including the United States. The region needs to come together to be more unified for sustainable development. And if there can be more political unity and more cooperation, then there will be more financial and monetary cooperation as well. A single money is a long, long way off, but what could happen much more quickly, is much more collaboration and cooperation among countries. And for that we need to end this division over Venezuela, as I mentioned, the division over Cuba, and many other divisions that often have their root in the United States, rather than division in the region itself.
W Radio
This would be the last question. Some of us believe that the war against drugs is lost. If you were to agree on this, what will be your recommendation? Some people speak about criminalization, some people say there's different solutions on the table. What will be your recommendation if you were to agree that the war against drugs is lost? What will be the path forward?
Jeffrey Sachs
Absolutely, the war on drugs, the way it was fought as a military operation has been a disaster for Colombia, for Bolivia, for Mexico, for the Caribbean, because it militarized all of the countries, created a lot of violence, a lot of gangs, a lot of war. And the core of the problem, of course, was the use of drugs in the United States, especially by the poor people and the underclass, and the fact that those people did not get help. They did not get social services. They did not get public health services to help them avoid becoming addicted or to help them cope with their drug use. And so this war, which is really a public health crisis in the United States, and a social crisis in the United States, was turned into a military crisis all through Latin America. It has failed. We need a new approach. The approach has to be based on de-militarization and on social and public health policies in the United States to reduce the use of drugs, to reduce the number of people that become addicted by giving them better hope, better jobs, better opportunities. This was always a social crisis. It should never have been turned into a war.
W Radio
Dr. Sachs, thank you very much for your time, for your comments on the future, the near future of our country, and please, have a very good stay in our country.
Jeffrey Sachs
I always do. So good to be with you. Thank you, muchas gracias.