Silvia Taimur
Title: CRISIS POLICY MEASURES EFFECTIVENESS IN VITAL PAYMENT AND CASH CIRCULATION SERVICES: THE CASE OF ESTONIA
Supervisor: Leno Saarniit, MSc.
Opponent: Steven Nõmmik, MA
Defense: 2-3 June 2022
Abstract: Estonian crisis policy measures are implemented with Emergency Act that addresses crisis management system to promote state resilience during crisis, defining services vital for continuity, including payment and cash circulation. The aim of this thesis is to analyse the effectiveness of Estonian crisis management system measures ensuring continuity of payment and cash circulation services during emergency. The paper examines the alignment of Estonian policy with classical crisis management concept, interdependence of applied measures and how they assure availability of payment and cash circulation services during emergencies. This paper is conducted as an exploratory case study on basis of crisis management system and actors. It can be concluded that Estonian crisis management system aligns with the classical concept. However, certain elements of framework such as risk matrix with scale design and tools as business impact analysis require further development to ensure adequate baseline for planning to emergencies. Implemented measures are planned strategically to ensure state continuity as a whole, but as crisis coordination is decentralised depending on area of authority, it fails to address detailed level of interconnections which will cascade during emergency. Furthermore, payment and cash circulation models are highly digitalised and established measures and principles do not ensure availability of all services to all citizens in all situations. The study concludes that further research is needed to strengthen availability of vital payment and cash circulation service during emergency.
Keywords: Crisis policy, vital payment and cash circulation service, measures effectiveness
