Lonely Ideas: Can Russia Compete? [Book Review]

This book explores the social, competitive, industrial, business, and scientific issues that have impeded Russia to compete with its industrial counterparts in the US, Japab, China, and Europe. It is noted that the label ¿¿¿Made in Russia¿¿? is not commonplace. The reason, the author suggests, is that for technological innovation to work, a society requires a social infrastructure that must include the basic elements of democratic freedom. These are: social mobility, a rising middle class, and protection of companies, patents, and entrepreneurs by the law. For these aspects to flourish, society must respect human rights, including the sanctity of property and person; and the individual profit motive, accordingly, has to be allowed and respected as legitimate.