Keynes and Keynesianism in Contemporary Russian Economic Thought

Abstract

We extend the long literary tradition of Western analyses of Russian economic thought on Keynes. First, we update the story through transition and into the current period. Second, we survey representative contemporary literature on Keynes, identifying four manifestations: that by historians of economic thought, that as popular surveys, that as economic policy, and that as commentaries on economic methodology, particularly the applicability of Western models to Russia. We conclude Keynes now holds a position of remarkable popularity across the ideological spectrum, signaling an important change in viewpoint – the shifting of academic consensus from liberalism to state regulation of the economy.

Keywords: Soviet Union, Russia, Keynes, Transition, Economic Policy, Political Economy

JEL Classification: P20, P30, B22, B24,