Controversially this book argues that the ruling party-state elite in the USSR itself moved to dismantle the old system. Topics discussed include:
* the beginnings of economic decline in 1975
* Gorbachev's efforts to democratize and decentralize
* the complex political battle through which the coalition favouring capitalism took power
* the flaws in economic policies intended to rapidly build capitalism
* the surprising resurgence of Communism.
Research includes interviews with over 50 former Soviet government and Communist party leaders, policy advisors, new private...

"Truly a distinguished piece of work, based on new data that had not been analyzed before. There is an excellent combination of historical perspective, conscientious examination of a great mass of data, and penetrating analysis." --Robert Aaron Gordon, Charter Member of the Brookings Panel on Economic Activity "Contends that since the Second World War, a small number of 'giant, well-established' banks in a few major cities have re-emerged as the major group that controls large corporations. Places the financial control thesis in historical perspective from the Civil War to the present and...

This book offers an ideal introduction to the social structure of accumulation (SSA) approach to the analysis of capitalist economies and societies. This approach seeks to explain the fortunes of economies in terms of the influence of political and economic institutions, and has proved to be a powerful tool for understanding economic success and failure. Combining newly written essays with classic articles of the SSA school, the book examines the international economy and the economies of Japan, South Africa, and Puerto Rico, as well as the United States.

Shows how continuing misguided policies have entrenched a group of super-rich oligarchs, in alliance with an all-powerful presidency, while further undermining Russia's economic potential. This book covers topics that include the origins of the oligarchs,

This volume analyses contemporary capitalism and its crises based on a theory of capitalist evolution known as the social structure of accumulation (SSA) theory. It applies this theory to explain the severe financial and economic crisis that broke out in 2008 and the kind of changes required to resolve it. The editors and contributors make available new work within this school of thought on such issues as the rise and persistence of the neoliberal, or free-market, form of capitalism since 1980 and the growing globalization and financialization of the world economy. The collection includes...