The Struggle for Natural Monopoly Reform in Russia

A U. S. economist and senior Russian government official examine the history of efforts to reform natural monopolies in the Russian Federation, focusing on changes occurring after March 1997. Initial sections explore the evolution of competition policy and pricing and examine provisions of extant natural monopoly legislation in Russia. Coverage then turns to developments in the four key sectors of electrical energy, natural gas, railroads, and telecommunications. A concluding section addresses whether prospects for competition have improved, identifies barriers to reform, and outlines common features of natural monopolies in post-Soviet Russia and how they differ from those in capitalist economies. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: L43, L50, L90. 49 references.