We all indulge in talk about the importance of transparency in theconduct of public affairs. Yet when we come to the nitty gritty, we all try to downgrade it.

This could perhaps be the result of the partisanship that ”infects” our political system where only two parties are in political competition.

Yet this hardly applies only to Malta. Go the the other extreme in size: the US: there too only two political parties are in permanent compettion. Still, the methods by which the US manages transparency issues cannot be underestimated.

Could the real problem be our small size?

We all do know each other so much, that transparency could threaten the ways by which people who know each other can still undermine each other while remaining ”friends”. And nobody wants this: if whoever is being undermined knows in real time about what is going on, people will stop talking to each other.

In a small society like ours, everybody would just go dumb. Social life would no longer exist.

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Part-time farmers

I got to know about some curious data. It shows how part-time farmers are becoming more numerous, both in Malta and Gozo. But proportionately more in Gozo than Malta.

In an economic sector where activity has declined in recent years, at least by way of the number of active agents, this is good news. Better an increase in part-time jobs, than an across-the-board reduction in employment.

I feel good when I get to know that activity in upmarket segments like computers are taking on more workers who are bound to earn good pay. But I also would like so to see so-called traditional sectors, like farming and fisheries, at least sustain a strong profile by way of jobs and turnover.

Even so: never blindly take over the data that’s presented. Give it a good scrutiny.

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Again Brexit

The Fitch agency has published a report claiming that Malta would be one of the EU member states most likely to be worst affected if the UK exits from the EU.

Such reports are useful. They make you reflect about the future and how to face up to potentially negative outcomes.

For instance, not so long ago, a study was carried out about how TTIP, the agreement on investment and trade being negotiated between the EU and the US, could affect EU member states. It came to the conclusion that only Malta would be ”negatively” impacted. The government criticised this study but then, if I understand correctly, let the whole matter drift.

Personally I was not too impressed by the Fitch report. True, Malta like Cyprus, has longstanding and important economic links with the UK.

But even if initially with Brexit, the UK economy would get a hit, I’m not convinced this would surely have a long term carryover.

If let’s say, sterling will depreciate and British tourists would no longer be able to pay for holidays abroad, what they produce will meanwhile become cheaper and sell more. Again British consumers will have enough money in their pockets to pay.

But we shall see.