The JOURNAL

USA v Canada: Economics, Politics, Culture

See in the next issue
(# 1, January 2001)

Victor B.Supyan, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Deputy Director, Institute of USA and Canada, Russian Academy of Sciences

EVOLUTION OF OWNERSHIP FORMS N IN THE U.S.A.:
MODERN FEATURES

Discussions about the efficiency and parity of different forms of ownership, as well as about the ways of privatization, are abound not only in the countries with transitory economies but also in the countries with strong market economies. These issues are actively discussed in the U.S.A. too. The American experience of privatization is particularly interesting for several reasons. Firstly, many basic theories in this field have been advanced by American scientists. Secondly, the concept of privatization here has been expanded: it includes presently not only the sale into private hands of state-owned enterprises, but also the introduction of other market mechanisms, for example, contract relations of state bodies with private firms - executors of government orders, the use of government vouchers for commercialisation of budget organizations. Thirdly, because the process of privatization in the U.S.A. evolves in a much lesser state-controlled economy than in the most other countries, so American experience can serve as an example of limits up to which the privatization should be pushed. Fourthly, the American experience can turn useful for better understanding the difference between a privatization called forth by motives to increase the efficiency of economy and a privatization induced by political reasons.

The first Acts, which had initiated joint-stock ownership of employees (ESOP - Employee Stock Ownership Plans) were approved by the US Congress in mid-70's. Since then dozens of new Acts have been adopted and, according to American statistics, at the end of the 90's about 15 million people or 12 % of the US labor force were involved in various forms of employees ownership. The rise and development of employee ownership is one of the major socio-economic phenomena in the evolution of private property of modern capitalism and in the search for certain political and ideological consensus concerning a ratio between private and state shares in the economy and society.

Georgy B. Korsakov, under-graduate of the Institute of USA and Canada, Russian Academy of Sciences

ABM DEFENSE: WHAT INHERITANCE PRESIDENT CLINTON HAS LEFT

The law about the Creation of National ABM Defense System was signed by President Clinton on July 23, 1999. But on September 1, 2000 he announced that the final decision on National ABM Defense would be left to the discretion of the next American president. Explaining the reasons of such a step, Clinton specified that the ABM technology still had not been checked up, and the carried out tests did not allow to make conclusions about its reliability.

Clinton referred to a number of political problems as well. The position of Russia was especially mentioned in connection with Russian-American negotiation on SALT and ABM Treaties. It would be pertinent to remind that Russia continues to consider the ABM Treaty as the primary factor of the preservation of strategic balance in the world of changing political conditions. For Russia, it is important that the United States will have reduced their nuclear arsenal up to 1500 blocks in comparison with a level of 3500 stipulated by the SALT-2 Treaty. This lower level might be reached within the framework of the SALT-3 Treaty.

It is worth noting that the anti-Russian line in American politics of the late 2000 - early 2001 was clearly seen. More than once American leaders have been specifying the danger of the Russian nuclear potential and a probability of restoration of the fighting capacity of the Russian Armed Forces.

Nevertheless, there is a certain positive potential for the development of wide international cooperation in non-strategic ABM systems which are not banned by international agreements and do not undermine strategic stability. In this light a close Russian-American cooperation is capable to become a powerful stabilizing factor and render strong influence on international relations. But it is possible only under the condition of preservation of the ABM Treaty, the SALT process continuation, and a further progress on the way to nuclear disarmament.

For the American side it has already become a field of activity of new president.

Serguey F. Molochkov, Leading Researcher, Institute of USA and Canada, Russian Academy of Sciences

CANADA STUDIES IN RUSSIA

Systematic studies of Canada began by the spring of 1972 when within the Institute of USA of USSR Academy of Sciences (nowadays - the Institute of USA and Canada of RAN) under the initiative of its director G.A.Arbatov the sector of Canada was created, led by L.A.Bagramov. The first published work of the new sector was a collective monography "Canada on the Threshold of 80's" (1979). Dozens of collective, individual and joint Canada studies were published since.

In 1989, Canadian specialists of the Institute initiated the formation of the Soviet Association of Canada Studies which was transformed in 1992 into the Russian Association of Canada Study (RAIC). Information about its activities, plans, publications and international contacts can be obtained on the site: http://canada.iclub.ru.

Summarizing the work made by Russian Canada specialists during past years, it can be said that considerable successes has been achieved in studying Canada in Russia. At the same time it is necessary to recognize that these were only the very first although rather impressive steps. The whole areas and sets of most interesting Canadian problems and questions wait for their researchers, who must either to continue more profoundly the already available works, or to become the pioneers in mastering the knowledge of Canada on new directions. Especially valuable is Canadian experience in development of different branches of traditional and "new" economy, and not in the last instance - in the agriculture. (Russian ploughmen, for example, should go first of all not to American Iowa, but instead to Canadian Steppe provinces, where both the climate and soils are the same, as in Western Siberia, but harvests are much higher).

As object of scientific analysis, on many directions Canada still represents a untouched virgin soil. Fascinating work on mastering new knowledge for the boon of Russia waits those enthusiasts, who will decide to join not so numerous group of Russian "Canadoveds".