Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics is the successor of the Institute of Economics of Georgian Academy of Sciences. It was always the leader in the country in the development of economic science and training of scientific specialists in this sphere. It is truly considered as a determinant of priority scientific trends and a coordinator of scientific-research works in economic sector.
The Institute of Economics of Georgian Academy of Sciences was founded in 1944 during the World War II by the initiative and under the direct guidance of Academician Paata Gugushvili.
The first scientific council of the Institute was formed by: Professor Paata Gugushvili (Director of the Institute), Academician Simon Janashia, Academician Niko Ketskhoveli, Professors: Philipe Gogichaiashvili, Giorgi Gekhtman and Nikoloz Koiava, Docents: Akaki Kakabadze (scientific secretary of the Institute), Ioseb Badjadze, Niko Iashvili, Ivane Jashi, Luarsab Karbelashvili, Nikoloz Tkeshelashvili, Irakli Mikeladze, Minister for Finances of Georgia Konstantin Tsimakuridze, Head of statistical department G. Peradze, Docent Sh. Chelidze.
The creation of the Institute in 1944 was of special importance for the development of economic science and upraising the culture of economic thought in Georgia.
On the basis of the experience accumulated in the Institute some institutes and departments of economic profile have been created, including economic departments of D. Gulia Abkhazian Institute of language, literature and history (1958), N. Berdzenishvili Batumi Scientific-Research Institute (1958) and Tskhinvali Scientific-Research Institute (1946) of Georgian Academy of Sciences.
During its existence the Institute has undergone many changes. In 1957 was created the department of law, soon transformed into sector (led by Tinatin Tsereteli, Corresponding Member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences) which was the organic part of the Institute and as a result, the Institute was called the Institute of economics and law in 1958. In 1988 the sector of law was transformed into the centre of law (Director, Professor T. Shavgulidze).
In 1963, 1989 and 1991 on the basis of the Institute were created three independent scientific-research Institutes: the Institute of National Economy and Planning subordinated to the State Planning Committee (founder and first Director, Professor Valerian Melkadze); the Institute of State and Law of Georgian Academy of Sciences (founder and first Director, Professor Tamaz Shavgulidze); the Institute of Demography of Georgian Academy of Sciences (founder and first Director, Professor Leo Chikava). In 1989 the Institute of Economics and Law was called the Institute of economics and in 1991 it was named after the name of its founder Academician Paata Gugushvili.
Since the creation of the Institute many scientific workers have become known by their scientific activity. Many of the scientists have been awarded by a special medal of the Georgian academy of Sciences and bonuses for the best scientific works of young researches, and by the Order of Honor for active scientific and pedagogical activity in 2003.
The scientific workers of the Institute have published many scientific works. Among them should be emphasized monographs of Academicians Paata Gugushvili, Avtandil Gunia and Vasil Chantladze, Corresponding Members of the Georgian Academy of Sciences Vladimer Papava and Leo Chikava, Professors Giorgi Tsereteli, Ramaz Abesadze, Giorgi Papava, Tamar Chikvaidze and others.
Very important is the edition of 15 volumes of collection of “the works of the Institute of Economics” (Editor-in-Chief Paata Gugushvili), six volumes of the collection – “economica”, four volumes of collection of thematic scientific works of the Institute “Problems of market economic development in Georgia” (by the editorship of Professor Giorgi Tsereteli and by his preface), two volumes of “collection of scientific works of Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics” (Editor-in-Chief, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Ramaz Abesadze); should also be noticed the edition of collective works “Conceptual-normative model of economically independent Georgia” (Chief, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Vladimer Papava), “Conception of development of economy of sovereign Georgia” (Chief, Academician Avtandil Gunia) and “Conception of transition to market economy in Georgia” (Chief, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Vladimer Papava).
The staff of the Institute is successfully continuing the edition of the results of research as separate works. Recently have been published many remarkable works, such as:
“Issues of Economic Regulation of Nature Protection Processes in the Conditions of Market Economy”, Tbilisi, “METSNIEREBA”, 2003 (Professor Giorgi Tsereteli); “The Ways of Definition and Decrease of Negative Economic Results Caused by Unemployment in a Post-Communist Country (a Case of Georgia)”, Tbilisi, “METSNIEREBA”, 2004 (Professor Giorgi Tsereteli, Candidate of Economic Sciences Nana Bibilashvili); “Necroeconomics: The Political Economy of Post-Communist Capitalism”, New York: Universe, 2005 (Professor Vladimer Papava); “Political Economy of Post-Communist Capitalism and the Economy of Georgia”, Tbilisi, “PDP”, 2002 (Professor Vladimer Papava); “The Central Caucasia (geopoliteconomic essay)”, Tbilisi, “Siakhle”, 2009 (Professor Vladimer Papava); “Economic Development”, Tbilisi, “Meridiani”, 2006 (Professor Ramaz Abesadze); “The Methodology of Quality Cognition of Mixed Market Economy Realia and Paralogisms”, Stockholm, “CA & CC PRESS®”, 2009 (Professor George Papava); “Problems of Economic Development and Prognoses”, Tbilisi, “Universali”, 2004 (Professor Ramaz Abesadze, Professor Roland Sarchimelia, Candidate of Economic Sciences Nanuli Arevadze, Medea Melashvili); “Mechanism of Macroeconomic Regulation of Small Business in Georgia”, Tbilisi, Publishing House of Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics, 2008 (Professor Ramaz Abesadze, Candidate of Economic Sciences Eteri Kakulia); “Market Economy and Agriculture”, Tbilisi, “Metsniereba”, 2003 (Professor Tina Chkheidze); “Regulation Mechanism of Economic Development of the country and the Ways of its Practical Realization (a case of Georgia)”, Tbilisi, “Metsniereba”, 2004 (Professor Vakhtang Burduli); “Strengthening Security Dimension in Georgian Government’s Economic Development Policy”, Tbilisi, “Grifoni”, Georgia, 2007 (Professor George Berulava); “Philosophic-legal Issues of Political Management”, Tbilisi, “Progress”, 2003 (Professor Alfred Kuratashvili); “Issues of Agro-economy and Agro-business”, Tbilisi, “Rubicon”, 2003 (Professor Murman Kvaratskhelia); “Problems of International Business”, Tbilisi, “Metsniereba”, 2004 (Doctor of Economic Sciences Revaz Javakhishvili); “Inflation Processes: Estimation and Regulation (a case of Georgia)”, Tbilisi, Publishing House of Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics, 2008 (Candidate of Economic Sciences Tea Lazarashvili, Candidate of Economic Sciences Lia Totladze); “Functioning and Development of Foreign-Economic Complex”, Tbilisi, “Metsniereba”, 2002 (Candidate of Economic Sciences Iza Natelauri).
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A wide range of scientific arrangements have been organized at the Institute since its foundation so far. We should mention traditional, institutional, Republican and international scientific conferences and symposiums.
The Institute has had relations with other Higher Institutes inside the country and abroad as well. The Institute staff has actively worked as tutors for years beside their major scientific work.
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There had been existed a specialized council, which had awarded scientific degrees in different fields of economic science for several years. The Heads of this Council were Academicians Paata Gugushvili and Avtandil Gunia, corresponding member of the Georgian Academy of Sciences Vladimer Papava, Professors Giorgi Tsereteli and Ramaz Abesadze.
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The Institute of Economics played a great role in bringing up Scientific-pedagogical staff. The Institute has provided the country with a lot of highly-qualified economists and lawyers, who has worked successfully in scientific-research Institutions, Higher Institutions, in different fields of economy, legal organs, Parliament, central or local authorities etc.
At present (since March, 2010) the Institute has the following structure:
Institute Authority (Director – Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Ramaz Abesadze, Deputy director – Zurab Tsereteli).
Scientific Council of the Institute (Head – Professor Tina Chkheidze, Deputy Heads: Academic Doctors – Nana Bibilashvili, Tea Lazarashvili, Scientific Secretary – Academic Doctor Lina Datunashvili).
Scientific Research Departments: economic theory (Doctor of Economic Science, Professor Alfred Kuratashvili); sectorial and regional economics (Doctor of Economic Sciences Vakhtang Burduli); business problem research (Doctor of Economic Sciences Giorgi Berulava); macroeconomics (Academic Doctor Nanuli Arevadze); public economics (Academic Doctor Tea Lazarashvili); innovations and international competition (Academic Doctor Iza Natelauri); sustainable economic development (Academic Doctor Mamuka Khuskivadze).
The institute has been existed for 65 years and it has actively worked and continues searching the ways to contribute for overcoming the challenges of our country.
In 2008 a periodical edition was founded to develop scientific level: Collection of Scientific Works of Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics, 3 volumes of which have already been issued. A discussion hall was opened in 2009 at the Institute, the best representatives of science and practical economists participate in the discussions.
In addition a publishing centre, teaching and consultation-expert centre, a commission of recommendations and scientific projects have been founded at the Institute. It is of great importance to issue “Big Georgian Economic Encyclopedia” (Editor, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor R. Abesadze). For this reason Main Edition staff of “Big Georgian Economical Encyclopedia” was created and started work in 2009.
In 2008 with the initiative of director of the Institute Ramaz Abesadze and by the decision of scientific council an International scientific-analytical journal “Ekonomisti”, was founded (editor-in-chief R. Abesadze)
Since the foundation of the Institute the directors were: Academician Paata Gugushvili, Academician Avtandil Gunia, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor, Corresponding Member of National Academy of Sciences of Georgia Vladimer Papava, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Giorgi Tsereteli. At present director of the Institute is Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Ramaz Abesadze.
Deputy directors of the Institute were Academician Avtandil Gunia, Candidate of Economic Sciences Tengiz Khoshtaria, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Tamaz Shavgulidze, Corresponding Member of National Academy of Sciences of Georgia Leo Chikava, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Tamaz Chikvaidze, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Bekirbi Khasia, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Giorgi Tsereteli, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Teimuraz Beridze, Candidate of Economic Sciences Tamaz Akubardia, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Tinatin Chkheidze, Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Ramaz Abesadze.
Scientific secretaries of the Institute were Doctor of Economic Sciences Akaki Kakabadze, Candidate of Economic Sciences Kirile Gogoberidze, Candidate of Economic Sciences Tengiz Khoshtaria, Candidate of Economic Sciences Grigol Karchava, Konstantine Bakradze, Doctor of Economic Sciences Mamulo Kekelidze, Doctor of Economic Sciences Valerian Jibladze, Candidate of Economic Sciences Leila Nodia, Candidate of Economic Sciences Zina Gvajava, Candidate of Economic Science Lamara Mindorashvili, Doctor of Economic Sciences Jamlet Shatirishvili, Candidate of Economic Sciences Nodar Ulumberashvili, Candidate of Economic Sciences Tamaz Akubardia, Candidate of Economic Sciences Nana Michilashvili, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences Tinatin Chkheidze, Candidate of Economic Sciences Lina Datunashvili.
According to the decision of Georgia’s Government the Institute joined Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University from 2011 as an independent scientific-research unit and was named “Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics of Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University”.