Forwarded to us by Don Hauptman:
Today’s (Friday, Dec 23, 2005) Wall Street Journal, page A13, has a long profile of top Putin economic adviser Andrei Illarionov. First para notes that he “has been preaching no-hold-barred, laissez-faire capitalism in Russia for more than a decade.” Of course, Rand’s enormous influence on his ideas is cited, albeit briefly.
If Russia’s horrible recent regression to communism and fascism is to be averted, he’s one one who will do it. But the article reports, sadly, that his influence is waning. Still, Putin hasn’t yet canned him, so perhaps there’s still hope.
We’ve written before about Illarionov, his connection with Rand, and his tenure in Putin’s cabinet.