Description
Book SynopsisThe economic power of the Russian state has declined to a point where it is no longer able to perform its basic function - maintaining law and order and providing social services. This innovative book proposes that the inherent weaknesses of the post-reform Russian state arose from the manner in which the Soviet Union dissolved combined with the critical role played by President Yeltsin.
Piroska Nagy argues that the initial type of reforms undertaken weakened the state even further, perpetuating short-termism, inhibiting competition and promoting asset stripping of its natural resources by the managerial elite. The author compares the experience in Russia with that of other countries in transition including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and China to discover why they have not seen a similar collapse in the role of the State.
Trade Review'This is a fascinating book. The penetrating analysis gives a clear political economy explanation how certain groups of the managerial-banker elite grab power and wealth of a magnitude unique in modern history. Many pieces of the puzzle were known before, the book's achievement is to provide a convincing overall picture of the process.' -- Janos Kornai, Harvard University, US and Collegium Budapest, Hungary
'A powerful restatement of the role a state can and should play in the process of economic transformation. Policymakers as well as scholars will ignore this book at their peril.' -- Stephen L. White, Keele University, UK
Table of ContentsContents: Preface Introduction and Summary 1. Why Do We Need a State at All? 2. Evidence and Consequences of the State Meltdown 3. Government in Transition – An International Comparison 4. Brief History of the Pre-Russian State 5. The Origin of the State Meltdown: The Economic Dimensions of the Power Struggle in the Center 6. The Evolving Russian State and Economic Reforms, 1992–98 7. Discretionary Presidential Powers and Decretism 8. Chaotic Fiscal Decentralization 9. Lessons Learnt and the Prospects for Russia and the Russian State References Index
