} The example of Russia shows best that market liberation makes many
} people very poor and a few very rich. The average differs and is
The example of Russia shows that rapid changes can be highly
detrimental in the short term. Shock is bad. Surprise!
Now, why has Russia felt the need to liberate its economy? If gov't is
so good, why isn't the West racing to increase gov't role? Why is China
moving toward markets and private incentives? You're right about Cuba
being unfairly isolated now, but the Eastern bloc as a whole didn't have
that problem -- it was half the developed world -- yet fell apart.
} High economic growth rates to not mean a high life standard. It's
} sustainable economic development that counts.
Well, the Eastern bloc collapsed. The Eastern bloc, from Prague to
Beijing, also has pollution that makes Los Angeles look nice. Mmm,
sustainability. I've heard rumors of Sweden going bankrupt -- so much
for their welfare state. Whether you like Thatcher or not *something*
improved in the British economy after 1980.
Time to reshuffle my mail filter.
Merry part,
-xx- Damien R. Sullivan X-) <*> http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~phoenix
"And I'm not all that decent and honorable. I'm merely well-bred, which
I hope is a tolerable substitute."
-- Anne Rice, _Ramses the Damned_