Professional Lobbyist

Professional lobbying is a job like any other, assert authors Vlahović and Jelić in their book.

And like any other job, it is important how we perform it and from what motives; in this case, it should be the intention of managing the relationships between a specific interest and public authority bodies. In modern business, it is crucial to understand how the environment affects the organization as well as how certain processes or decisions can be influenced. This is the space for lobbyists, but considering that lobbying in Croatia is yet to develop into a professional job, the manual ‘Professional Lobbyist’ describes the content of lobbying work, presents basic methods and techniques of lobbying, elaborates on campaign management, and warns of dangers.

Professional Lobbyist
Natko Vlahović, Bruno Jelić
MEP, Zagreb, 2015.

‘Consumption Cutting Policy – The History of a Dangerous Idea’ is yet another contribution to the debate that has been in the focus of global public attention since the beginning of the current crisis. To cut or to spend? Blyth analyzes the theoretical and empirical past and present of a problematic economic idea and policy, but also reveals the reasons, ideological, political, interest-based… why centers of power in Europe and the USA continue to insist on its theoretical validity and practical usability despite the fact that such a policy does not yield results. The cutting policy is simply an ineffective remedy for a misdiagnosed illness, claims Blyth, calling it a theoretical and practical nonsense, politically and socially unjust, and very dangerous.

Consumption Cutting Policy
Mark Blyth
Independent Institute of Science and Higher Education,
Zagreb, 2015.

The reputation of the financial industry could hardly be at a lower level than it is today, with painful consequences of the financial crisis that we have not yet fully resolved. However, New York Times columnist Robert Shiller conveys that we must put finance back in the service of the common good instead of condemning it. He presents strong arguments for recognizing finance as one of the most powerful tools for solving our common problems. We need more financial innovations – not less – and finance should take a greater role in helping society achieve its goals. He describes how finance has historically contributed to the welfare of society through innovations such as insurance, mortgages, pensions, and suggests devising new ways of financial creativity for the benefit of society.

Finance and Good Society
Robert J. Shiller
Mate, Zagreb, 2015.

The latest title from one of the stars of economic science, Yanis Varoufakis, which will be released in America in the spring of next year, directly accuses Europe of undermining the global economy and creating a climate conducive to authoritarian regimes. The former Greek finance minister claims that the eurozone is a house of cards whose eventual collapse, if things do not change, could lead the global economy into serious trouble. He offers concrete measures to save Europe from the impending disaster but does not miss the opportunity to fiercely criticize European cutting policy. Interestingly, the convinced Marxist Varoufakis believes that the collapse of European capitalism, no matter how burdened with problems, should definitely be avoided.