ISET Economist Blog

15 October 2018

Giorgi Mzhavanadze

Georgia’s New Gold Rush: Or the Economic Prospects of Export of Medical Marijuana

This article continues the theme of ISET Economist blog “Decriminalize Marijuana?” written by my colleague Saba Devdariani in June 2015, where he described the philosophical aspects related to marijuana state regulations and medical consequences of its consumption.

01 October 2018

Mariam Tsulukidze, Norberto Pignatti

Georgia Becomes a Net Importer of Electricity Even During the Summer Period

In August 2018, Georgian power plants generated 985 mln. KWh of electricity (a 5% decrease in total generation, compared to the previous year and a 22% decrease with respect to July 2018), while consumption of electricity on the local market was 1,049 mln. kWh (+1% compared to August 2017, and -4% with respect to July 2018).

24 September 2018

Maka Chitanava

Biosphere Reserve – The Role Model of Regions for Sustainable Development

While listening to Wade Davis, who has been often described as “a rare combination of scientist, scholar, poet and passionate defender of all of life’s diversity,” the subject of biosphere reserves came to my mind. This was partly because earlier this year I conducted a series of trainings on this issue with local municipality representatives in the Kakheti region, and partly because, as an economist, I see how valuable biosphere reserves can be to preserve cultural (and of course bio!) diversity.

09 July 2018

Nino Kakulia, Salome Deisadze

Great Expectations: Does the DCFTA Really Boost Georgia’s Economic and Export Potential?

On June 27, 2014, Georgia and the EU signed an Association Agreement (AA) and its integral part – the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). On July 1st, 2016, DCFTA fully entered into force. Until then, trade between Georgia and the EU was regulated by the Special Incentive Arrangement for Sustainable Development and Good Governance that contained a Generalized System of Preferences+ (GSP+) agreed to in 2005.

02 July 2018

Davit Keshelava

Will Georgia Ever Get to the World Cup?

This summer, Russia is again at the epicenter of the world, but this time for hosting the 21st FIFA World Cup football tournament and not for the occupation of its neighboring countries’ territories. The majority of the world’s population is gripped by football fever, and Georgians are no exception. You can see random people on the streets wearing the jersey of their favorite nation. Students attend classes wearing jerseys or football T-shirts.

30 June 2018

Irakli Barbakadze

Real Estate = Real Investment

Summer is a good time for traveling to the sea, but now I want you to join me in the journey in time. A memory from my childhood in the early 2000s was the discussion among people about the choice between “Khrushovka” and “Chekhuri.” Households were buying flats and making investments in real estate.

ISET Economist Blog

A blog about economics in the South Caucasus financed within the institutional grant by the Government of Sweden.