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Overview
The contributors to this volume analyze the present state of the Russian economy and its future prospects -- which now seem brighter than at any previous time in the country's history. The Russian economy is showing positive GDP growth and a positive balance of payments, portending a trend of sustained growth. The record of the Putin presidency with respect to the establishment of market-friendly legal and administrative environments is substantially positive. On the other side of the ledger, the contributors identify the persistence of monopolies in energy, transportation, and agriculture; distortions resulting from corruption, infrastural inadequacies, and the maldistribution of political power and decision-making authority; demographic decline and the erosion of human capital as manifested in the health, education, and welfare of the population. Russia's successful development as a democratic society with a market economy is of great importance to the West, and specifically to the United States, which is why the U.S. Congress commissioned these studies by the most expert contributors available. This edition includes a comprehensive subject index, making the volume user-friendly.Synopsis
This report on the Russian economy was commissioned by the U.S. Congressional Research Service at the behest of Senator Robert Bennett. The report focuses on the "reform" policies of Russian President Putin. Among the main findings of the report are the conclusions that: Putin's changes in the administrative and judicial systems are critical by plagues by bureaucratic inertia; monopolies in the energy, transportation, and agriculture sectors should be broken up; and welfare entitlements, pension funds, and education needs are underfunded. Annotation ©2003 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR