Corporate Strategy in Post-Communist Russia

Russian businesses in the post-Soviet period have been noted for their unusual, sometimes allegedly corrupt, practices. This book draws on the author’s first-hand experience of running a Russian company, arguing that a key to understanding contemporary Russian business is the importance of arbitrage (the ability to take advantage of price and cost differentials in different markets). The book argues that the conditions for such arbitrage advantages are often created by links to institutions; that arbitrage benefits are not available to all businesses in a sector, thereby providing unfair competitive advantages. The book includes case studies and an analysis of arbitrage activities in action.