Riga’s central market. Photo: Sally Garner |
Rooftops in Riga’s old town section. Photo: Sally Garner |
Worldfocus producer Sally Garner is in Riga, Latvia, reporting on the country’s floundering economy. She writes about how the financial crisis has impacted daily life in Latvia.
The headlines read: “Europe’s Sickest Country,” “Latvia’s Government Collapses,” “Europe’s Most Extreme, Dramatic Economy” — but walk around Riga, Latvia’s capital city, and you’ll see people heading to work, stores full of shoppers and banks open for business. It’s a recession. It’s Eastern Europe. And Latvians are holding their breath.
Unemployment is growing. The economy is now shrinking faster than in any other European country, but in the central market we found people choosing from the mountains of fruit and vegetables, checking out tables full of cookies and candy, buying bunches of flowers and even picking out sweaters and coats. They’re worried, but they say they remember harder times under Soviet rule.
This is a country proud of its 18 years of independence from the Soviet Union and willing to fight to save itself in the current economic crisis.
As we walked around Riga’s old town with its cobblestone streets and “pedestrian only” signs, we saw “for rent” signs — and while many people didn’t want to talk about the economy, most say they know someone who’s lost a job in just the last few months.
We’ve only been here two days, but we’ve heard bankers, small business owners, students and engineers all tell us that Latvia is in trouble. They just want us to know it’s trouble they share with the rest of the world, not theirs alone.
We’ll be back in Latvia next week. Tomorrow we head to neighboring Estonia, and later to Lithuania where we’ll see for ourselves what the headline “Once leaders, Baltic countries in deep slump” means in the countries that were dubbed the “Baltic Tigers” when money was flowing and times were good.
– Sally Garner
Watch for Worldfocus’ upcoming series exploring the Baltics in the coming weeks.
03/31/2010 :: 01:32:52 PM
Ronald Bruce Ellis Says:
I have been to Latvia many times during the last ten years and have formed my own impressions about its people. They may be free but most people are all dressed up and broke. Yes, there economy is in a fast down mode and I have witnessed negative socialism in action. Latvians and Russian ethnics need jobs, and not at 5 or 10 LATS a day but decent wages. Industrialization and the creation of jobs. Eliminate the confiscatory 21% Ad Valorum tax put on the people for purchasing goods and services. When taxes are reduced or mostly eliminated, government revenues always go up. Simply put, more people working, more tax revenue for the goverment budget. The average Latvian and Russian ethnic drink too much Vodka as depression among the people is rampant. Latvia is a very beautiful jewel basking in antiquity with a very rich and interesting history and culture. Latvia will get through this world economic crisis but thoughts for the future should be for creating more jobs, paramount for all of its residents. The Republican, capitalistic economy will be a key for their success. Sincerely, just plain Ron, an all American Boy.