IMF now thinks freedom of capital is not such a good thing (incl. for Ukraine)

WASHINGTON—International Monetary Fund economists, reversing the fund's past opposition to capital controls, urged developing nations to consider using taxes and regulation to moderate vast inflows of capitalso they don't produce asset bubbles and other financial calamities. It said emerging markets with controls in place had fared better than others in the global downturn.

The recommendation is the IMF's firmest embrace of capital controls and a reversal of advice it gave developing nations just three years ago. The IMF has long championed the free flow of capital, as a corollary to the free flow of trade, to help developing countries prosper. But the global financial crisis has prompted the fund to rethink long-held beliefs. It recently suggested the world might be better off with a higher level of inflation than central bankers now are targeting.

Economic agendas from Presidential campaign 2010

Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research publishes a 16-page research into the economic programs of the presidential candidates in the election-2010. The main three conclusions of the research are: 1) There is no correlation between actions of the candidates and their programs; 2) Candidates are addressing voters with the same promises as they did before without risking losing them; 3) Programs can contain ideologically contradictory messages, which shows willingness of the candidates to increase their electoral support.

In a nutshel, political programs during elections in Ukraine remain a formality.

For those interested in a full research, here is the link to a pdf documen in Ukrainian language.