A way with a future

A TESTING AREA FOR NEW IDEAS AND DECISIONS

Yan Strugach,,
Economic Observer

        The inter-regional associations for economic cooperation that sprang to life several years ago are quite appropriate. The very structure and activities of these associations bear seeds from which the links and connections of the country's new administrative mechanism will grow.
         On reading the articles published in this issue the readers will see all the multiformity and extent of the Northwest Association's work. The readers will realize that to a great extent the Association is relying upon administrative experience already accumulated in Russia. It applies branch management principles along with some of the features of "sovnarkhozy" and those of large agricuitural complexes. These are accompanied by typical interaction mechanisms of the present federal subjects,the principles of their cooperation with other associations and the center, longterm planning, forecasts of the territories' development, and nation-wide projects.
         Inter-regional associations should not however be regarded as the prototype for the country's economic management system. Rather, they are a testing ground for the ideas that arise and the decisions that are made in the today's crisis situation, one where the effectiveness of legislative and executive powers of the center and of federation subjects are tested. Today's problems are those of a transition to a free market economy. However, social issues and those relating to the further political and administrative restructuring of Russia, have been cropping up lately with increased frequency. These issues require thorough work, which the Northwest Association has already started.