-
Reset
+
"In 140 Characters (#i140c): Toomas Hendrik Ilves", Berlin Policy Journal, July/August 2015
13.07.2015
Josh Raisher
The Estonian president on austerity and difficult neighbors.
Berlin Policy Journal: @ilvestoomas What's the most important skill that you brought to your office from a previous job?
@berlinpolicy Through Columbia College's Contemporary Civ and Humanities core courses I came to understand the Enlightenment basis of a liberal democratic society.
@ilvestoomas What's the biggest obstacle for you at work?
@berlinpolicy Very early flights.
@ilvestoomas You've done a lot of work with soft power tools. Can soft power be effective against Russia?
@berlinpolicy Genuine soft power is not against but for something. Free flow of ideas, peace and development are much cheaper than war. Fake soft power can be bribery.
@ilvestoomas What's your biggest concern that doesn't start with "R"?
@berlinpolicy The cold Estonian summer, slow progress in the European digital single market, cyber-security.
@ilvestoomas What do you do at lunchtime?
@berlinpolicy Work
@ilvestoomas How do you relax at the end of the day?
@berlinpolicy Reading
@ilvestoomas You made a splash internationally for slapping down @PaulKrugmanBlog criticism of Estonia's austerity policies. Who's been proven right?
@berlinpolicy It's old news. Greetings to @PaulKrugmanBlog
@ilvestoomas How competitive is Estonia today?
@berlinpolicy E-stonia makes us a great place to do business. The @worldbank ranks Estonia 22nd in its Doing Business report (covers 189 countries). Low corruption also helps.
@ilvestoomas What could the rest of Europe learn from Estonia – about economics and dealing with economists?
@berlinpolicy Avoid unnecessary debt. Shrink government to stop recession. And be quick about it.
@ilvestoomas How would you sell austerity to Greece?
@berlinpolicy Austerity is not for sale. Indeed, austerity is not a policy, responsible governance is.
Artikkel ajakirjas Berlin Policy Journal (PDF).
Artikkel ajakirja Berlin Policy Journal veebilehel.
