DEVELOPMENT

that repudiates the GDP-centric mindset and has created
a Happy Planet Index, which is rapidly gaining popularity.
From Estonia’s point of view, most of these ladders
seem reasonable and pertinent: even the anti-globalists
and euro-sceptics want to live healthy lives with some
banknotes in their pockets, and none of them want to
fall victim to criminals or end up in the grasp of corrupt
superiors. Regardless of the criticism and the qualms, the
development ladders we see circulating in the world represent
the current understanding of what is important and
significant in life. Climbing them will not lead to an ideal
world, but it will make life more worthy of human dignity.
6.1.2
The next step
It has taken Estonia two decades to settle into the open
world and the global marketplace. In this report, we compare
the length of our steps both globally and in respect
to selected reference states. Figure 6.1.1 provides a generalised
comparison with our immediate environment – the
European Union. The spheres of life where Estonia is an
achiever in the EU context are included, as are the areas
where we lag behind.
When examining Estonia’s position in the world, as
well as in Europe, a unique contradiction becomes evident
– the indicators of our potential are often better than our
actual results. Estonia has been able to create a favourable
environment, without any significant restrictions,
for people, companies, and civil society organisations to
act. We follow the rules; our procedures are simple and
technology-friendly, even outdoing the countries of “old”
Europe. The Estonian taxpayers have to spend relatively
little to service the state debt. We have built an environment
that supports development, but, at the same time,
have not succeeded in adequately converting this into
benefits for the local people. Our health, wallets and life
satisfaction continue to among the poorest in Europe. The
development environment is good, but the development
itself does not meet expectations. Thus, our next challenge
is to transform Estonia’s potential into actual life quality.
The following are some observations based on this report,
which could support the steps that we will need to take.
Firstly – the broader view. Today, there are great
fluctuations in the assessments of Estonia: the external
view consists mostly of a wonderful success story; the
internal view is indecisive and critical, and sometimes
downright dramatic. The dramatic internal view is often
supported by a narrow base of comparison, which usually
starts with the statement, “But in Finland, they ….”
Broader comparative circumstances would benefit the
Estonians’ mindset. By examining the broader context,
we would find out that ideal worlds do not exist, and on
the global arena, we have actually coped very well – we
are one of the few societies with a population of about
one million which has established itself in the world.
A broader comparison would also help to increase the
people’s self-confidence in Estonia and cure them of the
need to cling to past concerns. It would help to shift their
attitude from someone who is endangered and waiting for
help toward someone who is responsible and makes a contribution.
Because our actual position in the world tells us
outright – we have to tend not only to our own business,
but also to the business of Europe and the world.
Secondly – the obstinate view. In the course of
twenty years, the Estonian state and people have been
good learners, adopting the things that already existed
– be it the European Union’s rules, NATO’s standards
or the correct wording of human rights issues. Unfortunately,
imitation can only produce a middling result, not
the best one. Becoming one of the best requires stepping
outside the well-worn path, having the courage to risk,
taking a critical of view oneself, but also having the ability
to compromise. In this regard, we lag behind the most
capable players – be it enterprise in the economic sphere,
leadership in the social sphere, or clearly argued involvement
in politics. Our conservative self-interest needs to be
purposefully complemented by a more constructive and
creative attitude toward life.
Thirdly – the comprehensive view. The report
points out that some unreasonably large differences in
the society are hidden behind Estonia’s excellent average
indicators – be it regional differentiations, gender gaps or
differences between Estonians and other ethnic groups.
A small society cannot allow itself the luxury of being
splintered or of wasting its human capital – those who lag
behind have to be brought up to speed. Experience teaches
us that the successful small states of the world do not recreate
America at home, but rather strive to create Nordic
countries, in the belief that the price of vitality is internal
harmony. The attitudes of the elite who are focused on the
social sphere, which were described in chapter five of this
report, point to the fact that things are changing.
Fourthly – the direct view. The next step requires
that we also face some inconvenient truths, which capable
Estonia has preferred to ignore – whether the topic
is our title of European HIV-positive champion, the hot
potato of immigration, the Russian complex that consistently
impedes us, and forces us to write preambles, fight
against gas pipelines and be ashamed of Yeltsin bas-reliefs.
Instead, we must look at the Estonian-Russians
with a clear gaze and recognise their contribution to the
improvements in our life, supported by the knowledge
that those who ignore problems can achieve mediocrity
but not excellence.
The global marketplace is a harsh world, where survival
is not guaranteed for anyone. It is a kind of miracle
that, after surviving the meat grinder of the twentieth
century, Estonia has been able to establish itself and cope
in this marketplace. Unfortunately, the rules of the marketplace
do not allow for any let-up. A great step has been
taken and the next one is just ahead. Estonia’s skeleton
– its judicial area, economic environment and democracy
– works but it requires some fine tuning. Now the focus
must shift to the content – smarter enterprise, better-paid
work, transparency in politics, flexibility in education, and
uniform development. This requires a fresh viewpoint and
leadership, but we must also rid ourselves of any impediments.
Estonia has been remarkably capable at removing
external limitations, now we have to come to grips with the
internal ones. A broader, more obstinate, more comprehensive
and more honest view of ourselves and the world will
hopefully help us to join those who are the best, not only
in potential, but also in the context of actual life quality.
Estonian Human Development Report 2012/2013
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