Mirjana Hrga commented on price increases, bureaucracy, and the conditions in which Croatian entrepreneurs operate, with her post sparking debate in the comments. Hrga considers the proposed method for customers to compare previous and current product prices to be difficult to implement in practice, suggesting the state should approach the issue differently.
She specifically addressed the volume of regulations and administration entrepreneurs face. "It is sick, truly sick, the amount of paperwork one has to process daily/weekly," she wrote, citing an example of a restaurant. She believes the state has set so many conditions that entrepreneurs have little time left for actual work, and as an example of simplification, she proposes clearer rules and less administration.
As a solution for prices, Hrga proposes distinguishing between luxury products and basic necessities. For basic products such as eggs, milk, cheese, oil, butter, detergents, and toilet paper, she suggests that manufacturers display the recommended price on the packaging, alongside the expiry date. This would give customers clear information about the price the manufacturer believes the product should cost.
"This would save the reputation of manufacturers, especially those for whom it is most difficult, traders would not be able to indulge in the tourist season, and customers would know where they stand," Hrga wrote. She believes the state should then monitor trade margins, rather than burdening entrepreneurs with additional administrative obligations. She concluded her post by stating that such a system would be "much easier and fairer."
In the comments, someone agreed with Hrga that the private sector is bearing a heavy burden, asserting that the situation would become even more difficult, particularly for the manufacturing sector. Hrga responded that she believes the benefit of better conditions for entrepreneurs would ultimately be enjoyed by all. "When will entrepreneurs be able to breathe freely? - it will be for everyone. We have a host of officials paid by the state. Let them do the work for those who provide them with a salary," she wrote.
She added that, in her opinion, there is no progress while the state and those creating capital are in a relationship of trying to outsmart each other due to the large number of unclear rules. "As long as the state and those creating capital are in a low start, who will cheat whom, as the rules are too many and none are clear," Hrga concluded.
