Russia's transition to a market economy has been tortuous to say the least. However, this book argues that the arguments and counter-arguments that pitch shock therapy against gradualism are wide of the mark and quite pointless. Indeed, the reasons for the warped outcomes can actually be traced back through the long sweep of Russian history. Decisions made in the distant past can fully influence policy- making in the present. Hedlund's thesis can, like this, be seen as influenced by the 'path dependency' theories of Paul David among others.
Author(s): Stefan Hedlund
Series: Routledge Studies in the European Economy
Publisher: Routledge
Year: 2005
Language: English
Pages: 409
Book Cover......Page 1
Title......Page 6
Copyright......Page 7
Dedication......Page 8
Contents......Page 10
Preface......Page 12
Part I Introduction......Page 16
1 History matters......Page 18
Part II The setting......Page 36
2 Stationary bandits......Page 38
3 Successor states......Page 60
Part III The lock-in......Page 86
4 Lords of all Rus......Page 88
5 The only true Christians......Page 116
6 The patrimonial state......Page 140
Part IV The path dependence......Page 172
7 The apogee of patrimonialism......Page 174
8 Failures to break out......Page 205
9 Back to Muscovy......Page 237
Part V Breaking with the past?......Page 276
10 Another time of troubles......Page 278
11 Muscovy reconstituted......Page 299
12 Achieving credible commitment......Page 322
Notes......Page 347
References......Page 388
Index......Page 400
