Final Word from Thursday, October 20, 2005
The big banks won't be fined by the antitrust office for price collusion, but they aren't out of the woods yet. The finance ministry still wants to tighten the regulatory controls over them. The banks say this would be a step backwards, but they neglect to mention that they are among the biggest beneficiaries of state intervention. Not only were there huge government bailouts and loan guarantees, but there are also numerous consumer incentives (mortgage subsidies, construction-savings bonuses, supplementary-pension deductions) that contribute handsomely to the banks' bottom lines. Even the limits on cash payments, the restrictions on cross-border movements of cash, and the VAT on gold coins have indirectly helped the banking industry reach its current preeminent position in society. If the banks don't want state intervention, they should be careful what they ask for. [Czech Republic socialism value-added tax anti-monopoly collussion]