AUTHOR'S BIO
Aleh Tsyvinski
Aleh Tsyvinski is Professor of Economics at Yale University.
| RECENT COMMENTARIES | FEATURED COMMENTARIES | MOST READ COMMENTARIES |
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Russia’s Inevitable Democratization
Sergei Guriev and Aleh Tsyvinski Series: A Window on Russia 2011-12-30Twenty years ago, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev resigned, the Soviet Union ended, and Russia began an imperfect transition to democratic capitalism. And yet the recent protests – somewhat similar to those that preceded the Soviet collapse – provide grounds for cautious optimism about the future.... read Comments: 2 Recommended: 0 Read: 8798
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The Purge of the Kremlin Chairmen
Aleh Tsyvinski and Sergei Guriev Series: A Window on Russia 2011-04-11
In recent months, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has moved against some of the most powerful men in the Kremlin: the ministers and deputy ministers who chair Russia's state-owned companies. But the purge may reflect other goals than improving the investment climate.... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 10291
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Prisoners of the Red Army
Sergei Guriev and Aleh Tsyvinski Series: A Window on Russia 2011-02-22While all other large European countries abolished military conscription in recent decades, Russia continues with a system in which all physically-fit male citizens aged 18 to 27 must serve for 12 months. The system is unfair, inefficient, and unpopular, and should be reformed – for the military's own good.... read Comments: 1 Recommended: 0 Read: 12515
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That 70’s Show in Russia
Aleh Tsyvinski and Sergei Guriev Series: A Window on Russia 2010-07-30
If oil prices remain at $70-80 per barrel, Russia is likely to relive key features of the Brezhnev era of the 1970’s and 1980’s – with a stagnating economy and 70-80% approval ratings for its political leaders. That will preserve the status quo, but eventually the only choice will be genuine economic reform or dangerous civil disorder.... read Comments: 1 Recommended: 0 Read: 12153
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Can Russia be Saved?
Sergei Guriev and Aleh Tsyvinski Series: A Window on Russia 2009-01-29The global economic crisis has finally forced Russia's government to adopt reasonable policies, thereby staving off disaster – at least for now. But the ossified, corrupt, inefficient economy built in the fat years of the oil boom may still prove impossible to save.... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 17409
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The Russians are Coming – With Cash
Aleh Tsyvinski and Sergei Guriev Series: A Window on Russia 2008-10-10Russia’s government and largest companies are sitting on a giant pile of cash that they plan to invest in foreign assets, triggering nervousness in the West about increased Russian political influence. But, while the most important consequence of Russian foreign investment is political, it consists in the possibility that Russia might become a good global citizen. ... read Comments: 2 Recommended: 0 Read: 19271
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Moving Beyond Putinomics
Sergei Guriev and Aleh Tsyvinski Series: A Window on Russia 2008-04-29President Dimitry Medvedev seems to understand that sustaining economic growth will not be easy: oil prices cannot rise forever, and the “low hanging fruit” of basic reform and prudent macroeconomic policies have already been picked. But yawning inequality and rampant corruption remain serious obstacles to realizing his goal of encouraging private initiative.... read Comments: 0 Recommended: 0 Read: 23324
