Russia’s Economy Reverting to Pre-1991 State-Run Inefficiency

Innovation and creativity, always weak spots in Russia, are so much as doomed as just not needed

Photo by the blowup on Unsplash

The Soviet bureaucracy never really went anywhere despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. In the immediate aftermath of the dissolution of the empire, the men and women who made up the vast army of “chinovniki” went quiet for a short period — they weren’t sure who “had their back” and it wasn’t clear what rules should be followed.

As a result of the initial confusion, and even fear that laws could be broken, chaos ensued. By early 1992, it became obvious to many that the bureaucracy they hated so much had actually been responsible for keeping things moving forward in the Soviet Union.

By the end of 1992, the army of middle-aged women with their thick beads around fat necks, sequined-decorated sweaters, and insatiable appetites for cakes, sweet tea, and the occasional shot of Napoleon Cognac regrouped and was ready to use its power to force Russia’s citizens to pay handsomely as they sought to build Russia’s new economy. The free-for-all was on and corruption became the only way of life.

Soon, though, the corruption became so disruptive that most Russian citizens fought against it. Politicians came to…