Template-Type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name:  Vladimir Mau
Author-Name-First:  Vladimir
Author-Name-Last:  Mau
Author-Workplace-Name:Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy
Title:Russian Economic Reforms as Perceived by Western Critics
Abstract: It has recently become customary to argue that Russian economic transformation since 1991 has failed because of bad policy advice and mistaken policy choices. Though Russia’s performance leaves much to be desired, such criticisms are based on a failure to analyse the real choices available to reformers in the post-perestroika period. The paper, criticising in particular the views presented by Jospeh Stiglitz, shows that the Chinese reform path was not available to Russia, that mass privatisation was influenced more by political necessity than theoretical choice, and also discusses the relation between doctrine and necessity in policy making more generally. The final section of the paper characterises Russia as a case of weak state, and identifies several of the consequences arising.
Length:  31 pages
Creation-Date: 1999
Revision-Date:   2012
Classification-JEL: P20, P21, P26, P27
Keywords:   Russian economy, global crisis, economic crisis
File-URL: https://www.iep.ru/files/RePEc/gai/ppaper/112Mau.pdf
File-Format: Application/pdf
File-Function: Revised version, 2012
Handle: RePEc:gai:ppaper:112