ISSN: 1824-2979
by Steven Rosefielde
Start page: 3 - End page: 16
Keywords: Russian economy; transition economics; comparative economic systems
Jel code: P30; P40; P51; P52
DOI:
Andrei Shleifer and Daniel Treisman recently rendered a summary verdict on the post Soviet Russian transition experience finding that the Federation had become a normal country with the west's assistance, and predicting that it would liberalize and develop further like other successful nations of its type. This essay demonstrates that they are mistaken on the first count, and are likely to be wrong on the second too. It shows factually, and on the norms elaborated by Pareto, Arrow and Bergson that Russia is an abnormal political economy unlikely to democratize, westernize or embrace free enterprise any time soon