Vouchers such as meal cards, holiday vouchers and social vouchers in Romania generated an economic impact of over 1.4% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024, fuelling more than 213,000 jobs nationwide.
These are the conclusions of an extensive study conducted by a team of researchers from the Bucharest School of Economics (ASE) unveiled on Tuesday at the Policy & Impact Forum, an event organised in partnership with the Professional Association of Voucher Issuers and the French Embassy in Romania.
According to organisers, Professor Adriana Alexandru Davidescu presented two simulated scenarios in the study: an indexation for inflation of 7%, and 9.8%, respectively, of social vouchers as against a scenario in which these vouchers would no longer be issued.
The complete elimination of vouchers would lead to annual losses of RON18.99 billion, the equivalent of 1.079% of GDP, and the loss of over 150,000 jobs, especially in food, retail and services.
On the other hand, if meal cards and holiday vouchers were indexed for inflation according to the simulated scenario, the total impact on the economy would increase by up to 0.14% of GDP, generating between 12,000 and 18,500 additional jobs, with visible effects both on domestic consumption and in vulnerable areas.
"Social vouchers are not an expense, but a mechanism of economic and social balance, as they stimulate GDP, fuel economic growth and avoid major fluctuations, create jobs, reducing unemployment, and reduce the informal economy, which puts more money into the public system and supports the state system. We recommend firmly maintaining the policy of value vouchers and social vouchers because all the simulations in the study clearly demonstrate that these instruments generate a major positive impact on the economy, help maintain and create tens of thousands of jobs and stimulate economic chains. An automatic mechanism of indexation for the inflation rate is essential to protect the purchasing power of the beneficiaries and to preserve the real stimulating effect at the macroeconomic level," according to lecturer Vanesa Teodorescu, project director.
The Professional Association of Voucher Issuers, in partnership with ASE and the French Embassy in Romania, on Tuesday held the first edition of the Policy & Impact Forum, an event that aims to become a landmark in the debate and formulation of public policies for a sustainable social and economic development of Romania.
Delivering the opening speech was Nicolas Warnery, the French ambassador to Romania.
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