UPD: 28/01/2014 Zone eating away. Who will feed in Ukraine

Only six regions of Ukraine could live self-sufficient. The rest is obtained from the state budget more than they give.

When, during the dismantling of the barricades in the streets of the capital Lutheran correspondent "Investgazeta" tried to talk with the staff, "Golden Eagle", they stated in response: "We do not want to listen to you, you pay us still do not pay - you all of the subsidized western regions."

This statement - not his own invention militia watered-rukov. The thesis that the eastern regions of Ukraine are fed Western, often repeated many officials, from the mayor of Donetsk Alexander Lukyanchenko and ending with the former Minister of Social Policy Michael Papiyev.

As the calculations "Investgazeta", this statement is hopelessly out of date.

For the first six months of 2013, Donetsk region received from the state budget 9.2 billion. UAH. appropriations, grants and subsidies more than it paid. The result - 25 th place overall ranking of twenty-six. More payments from the budget of Kyiv had only a share -. More than 11 billion (26th place). But the Lviv region was in sixth position: up to six months she was transferred to the state budget 356 million UAH.. more than it has received. However, this is not a record. The best fiscal balance among all regions showed Kharkiv region - six months here in the budget received almost 7 billion USD net.

However, the absolute figures are not entirely indicative - at least, they do not take into account the regional dimensions. Here it is more appropriate to compare the budget balance per capita. This changes the picture, but not dramatically.

For example, in one donetchanina six months of last year had 2126 UAH., The listed area of ​​the state budget, which corresponds to the 20th place. Lviv - a measure of 140 UAH. transfers to the central government - remained in sixth. Kiyani also retained the 26th place - the amount of subsidies and grants from the state budget in the per capita capital amounted to 4072 UAH. This - the worst performance of all regions. (It is worth noting that the Kiev with a negative balance, because he has taken in the budget of all taxes on personal income, in contrast to other cities if it had not happened, there would be a surplus of 4-5 billion, -. Tsenzor.NET. ) But in the first place was the Poltava region unexpectedly. Region listed in the budget for 3757 UAH. in per capita terms.

Eyes on the population

The most paradoxical that the amount of the net proceeds from the areas in the state budget is almost independent of the gross regional product. In most cases, these revenues are correlated with only one indicator - population of the region. In other words, the main sources of revenue - a tax on personal income and consumption taxes, the same VAT. Revenues of industrial and other enterprises often "leave" the place of registration of the head office - in the capital or in the offshore.

In our assessment, we do not take into account how much bring to the state budget customs of a particular region.

On the one hand, the proceeds from customs largely subsidized 20 "unprofitable" regions. On the other - imported goods that cross the border to the port of Odessa or Chop, more or less evenly distributed throughout the territory of Ukraine (except imports of consumption is slightly higher in the border areas because of the short transport shoulder). But overall import taxes in fact pay for end-users - uniformly throughout the country. However, from this picture, at least on major purchases like cars, knocked out of Kiev and other major cities (in particular, it concerns the import of cars). But the general picture of the distribution of funds is affected insignificantly.

But export duties, according to the Center of market reforms President Vladimir Lanovoi, on the state budget in general have almost no effect: they apply only to leather products, scrap metal, and a few other small commodity groups. But in the near future, Ukraine undertook to cancel these payments.

the breadwinner

Excluding imports to Ukraine in fact "feed" three regions: Kharkiv, extracting oil and gas, Dnipropetrovsk, where iron ore is mined, and especially Poltava, in which the development of production and that, and another, and the third. They provide a budget large sums of rent payments and payments for subsoil use.

By the way, Vladimir Lanoviy noted that the Poltava region also is a leader in the generation of added value. Located on the territory of enterprises of oil refining, automotive and others were built relatively recently - almost all of them to have a functioning production since the Soviet era.

In addition to these three areas, "a plus" only worked Sumy, Cherkasy and Lviv, Rivne and in income and expenses are almost equal in the first half. But here, as can be seen from the calculations, good results can be explained not so much by a high level of income generated by the state budget, as a relatively low level of assistance from the center in per capita terms.

Loss

Unlike oil, gas or ore, coal mining in the Donbass does not bring profit budget - are not charged rent payments due to loss-making industries. On the contrary, the state spends 12-14 billion. UAH. to support the miners, mostly compensating for the difference between the price of coal sales and its cost. Interestingly, the same amount will be released, if you add the negative balance of payments to the state budget of nine western and northern regions.

Coal subsidies account for approximately 30% of all revenues from the state budget in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. But even if they are not taken into account, these regions remain deeply subsidized. Firstly, the recent huge investments here are sent to various "projects of national importance," such as the construction of roads. Second, the tax authorities especially favor the Donbas. During the study half of the state budget of the Donetsk region received 6.7 bln. UAH. value added tax, and was offset by 8.7 billion. UAH. This is an absolute record for all regions.

At the same time, per capita on subsidies Donbass less than in some western areas - such, for example, Zakarpattia, Ternopil, Volyn and Ivano-Frankivsk. However, only in the latter region, the negative balance is due to substantial subsidies covering the loss-making local budgets. The other three were in the bottom of the list because of the large number of budget organizations - the bulk of payments from the budget are made up on the protected items, for example - the salary.

Very specific indicators in Kiev. On the one hand, the city generates about 40% of budget revenues (excluding customs), because it is here that are registered and pay taxes, many Ukrainian enterprises. On the other, subventions and grants to perform the functions of the capital, targeted payments for the construction of the subway, bridges and roads, as well as budgetary allocations to numerous organizations with interest cover receipts and turn Kiev in the most subsidized region of the considered twenty-six.

To earn themselves

Subsidization of one region at the expense of the other - the usual practice for the global situation. "Ukraine - a unitary state, and therefore, it is absolutely normal for a permanent allocation of resources between the regions", - says Oleg Ustenko, executive director of the International Fund blazer.

However, there is one "but." The fact that almost everywhere budget subsidies are intended to tighten the economy of depressive regions in the future to reduce their need for subsidies. For example, in Mexico the money earned is traditionally industrial, and oil-producing regions are concentrated on the east coast and around Mexico City. But most of the financial assistance from the center systematically invested in the past two decades to the development of agriculture and tourism - it helped the country where the public oil sector a few years ago was on the verge of crisis.

In Ukraine, everything is exactly the opposite. With rare exceptions, the amount of subsidies is not determined by structural projects and short-term political expediency. A simple example: according to Oleg Ustenko, when his fund a similar study conducted in 2010, the results were quite different: subsidies from the state budget per capita has been minimal in the eastern regions. And the maximum - in the West, except perhaps in Lviv.

Completely get rid of subsidies is not realistic. Reduce subsidies and give impetus to the development of the economy could budget decentralization. At least, the areas would not have to first send most of its revenue to the center, then to expect them to return. "To carry out this reform is necessary. But gradually, creating incentives to ensure that the area studied to earn more, because the money earned will remain in their possession, "- says Vladimir Lanoviy. According to him, in the regions of the world practice it is usually left to the taxes which are levied on the ground. At the same time, payments made to the budget during import, for example, import duties or excise taxes, go to the central treasury.

Over the past 20 years, such projects were discussed many times in Parliament. However, none of them came even before the second reading. This is not surprising. After all, when the funds are moving from the first region, then the region on this "movement" is always possible to make good money. Furthermore, this "movement" - a good tool extra control center of the region. In any case, during the recent protests, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov allowed himself to directly threaten the blocking of payments to the State Treasury western regions - if they will continue to protest rallies.