«We Are Used to Being Poor, But We Dream of Getting Rich»

The issue of the interrelationships between the rich and society, as well as the efforts to solve the attendant problems seem to have interested many of our readers. Is the insignificant number of rich people in Ukraine the reason for all our troubles or perhaps our last hope that things will improve in the end? How much do these wealthy individuals break the law and how much does Ukrainian society treat them unfairly? The Day continues publishing the most interesting observations and views on the subject.

Oleksiy PLOTNYKOV, Ph.D. (Economics):

To begin with, being lawfully rich in Ukraine is anything but easy. For obvious reasons, this society is doing everything it can to nip every Ukrainian Bill Gates or Rockefeller in the bud. Most fortunes made in Ukraine have rather dubious backgrounds. At the same time, this society forces every wealthy individual do his utmost to conceal his wealth.

In the developed countries society is proud of its prosperous individuals; every self-made man is accorded respect. The state guarantees all citizens adequate living conditions, while individual initiative and career ambitions are encouraged in every possible way. By contrast, Ukraine cultivates the principle «equality in destitution,» rather than «equality in prosperity.» The current regime has done its best to promote and enhance this principle at the official level, alongside thriving corruption, the shadow economy, and other negative phenomena begetting de facto inequality. One can only hope that the living standard embracing vast strata will rise after replacing the regime and getting Ukraine out of its crisis, meaning that the attitude to the rich will also change.

Danylo KURDELCHUK, lawyer, head of the Ukrainian Foreign Legal Collegium:

Recent history shows that reasonably wealthy individuals tend to share some of their riches with the poor, if only for reasons of personal safety. In this sense Ukraine's biggest problem is that we do not practice any of the rules of the game accepted everywhere else in the civilized world. If a wealthy individual knows he will benefit from investing in his own country, if he knows that no one will take away his money tomorrow, and if he is guaranteed opportunities to do business and make money, this individual will not evade taxes or transfer his money abroad. That's elementary. Ukrainian laws contradict each other; put together, they in no way correspond to the situation that has developed. The state should adopt a different attitude to this problem, replacing its current administrative methods with economic ones. Incidentally, shortly after the USSR's collapse many built fortunes without practically breaking the law — for there were no relevant laws in existence. Now we have plenty of laws, but they are such that living by them is extremely difficult, because they are inadequately made and controversial. Personally, I think that this was done on purpose, for many benefit from this situation. And this situation will go from bad to worse until rich individuals representing business, not the nomenklatura, come to power and assume full responsibility for this country.

Anatoly BORSIUK, «Monologues» television program author and host:

No one loves wealthy people in Ukraine, which is only natural, considering that hatred of wealth was inculcated in us for decades. From our historical memory we know the age-old confrontation between rich and poor. I think that this confrontation continues. We are used to being poor, but we dream of getting rich. Naturally, we don't know how to go about it for the simple reason that we are not keen on working very hard. Even less so do we know how — or are willing to — earn money legally.

In any civilized country society is divided into three conventional categories: the rich, middle class, and poor. We have just two categories. I wish we had more people of means than we do now, because the money they pay (or do not pay —Ed. ) as taxes is what keeps the lower strata afloat. In any case, I know for sure that this is impossible now and it will be quite some time before it becomes possible. Thus I can only hope that there will be more people earning good money in Ukraine before long — in other words, people representing that very middle class. If this happens the conflict I mention will end.

PS: The Day invites its readers to contribute to this discussion. Welcome to send your e-mail messages marked «Responsible Wealth» to pravo@core.day.kiev.ua.