Transformation in Russia: insights from the Russian province Available to Purchase

Russia has been undergoing a profound political and economic transformation since the mid 1980s. The article explores various aspects of economic transformation from the viewpoint of an industrial enterprise in the Russian province, focusing on four aspects of the transformation process: ownership and control, mutual indebtedness, social assets and labour restructuring. In doing so, the aim is to compare and contrast the Russian experience of transformation with that predicated by economists at the early stages of transition and with the experience of the other transforming countries in Central and Eastern Europe. What emerges is a distinctive picture of transformation in Russia, as Russian companies have developed at times idiosyncratic responses to the general issues they face. A general conclusion of the article is that the Russian economy is evolving towards a market system with distinctive Russian characteristics.