NEWSLINK: It is enough to compare plans of Russia and China to understand Russia’s authorities [re: Economy]

Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Valdai Discussion Club – Vladislav Inozemtsev – Nov. 28, 2012 – Vladislav Inozemtsev is  Federal Political Council member of the Right Cause party, Director of the Centre for Post-Industrial Studies, publisher and editor of the Svobodnaya Mysl monthly, member of the Valdai Discussion Club – This article was originally published in Russian in Moskovsky Komsomolets – http://valdaiclub.com/economy/52020.html)

The Valdai Club website presents commentary by Vladislav Inozemtsev in which he blames Russian economic challenges on the ruling elite:

Why is it so difficult for the Russian economy to rid itself of its dependence on oil? Why is Russia’s growth slowing down and its infrastructure falling apart? There are many explanations, from an insufficiently rapid growth in raw material prices and adverse weather conditions to the negative legacy of the 1990s and global intrigues. But I believe that there is one more explanation, which has been in need of open discussion for a long time ­ the glaring incompetence of the ruling elite.

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Lots of money has been invested in the planned high-speed road between Moscow and St. Petersburg, but the road has not been built. Despite huge investments in rearmament, fewer new weapons are being purchased for the army than in the late 1990s. The investment program of rail monopoly Russian Railways has been growing, but fewer rail lines are being built than during the reign of Emperor Alexander II in the late 19th century.

If we want the Russian economy to develop, we must first reduce the planning period from 15-20 to 3-5 years; second, we need to stop drafting development scenarios and variants; and third, we have to measure development by physical data and results rather than by cost and investment targets.

This will help us to see why Russia is fast falling behind other countries and that its current leadership is not up to the development tasks at hand.

Click here to read full article: http://valdaiclub.com/economy/52020.html

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