This book investigates the structural transition of the Russian economy from the collapse of the Soviet system to the establishment of a contemporary capitalist market. Simon R. P. Clarke utilizes his background in political economy to analyze the failure of neo-liberal 'shock therapy' models in the early post-Soviet era. By integrating original research on enterprise working practices, the author provides a critical framework for understanding why the expected rapid transition to a market economy did not materialize as predicted by Western theorists.

Experts recognize this text as a significant contribution to the study of post-Soviet economic transformation, particularly for its focus on micro-level enterprise data. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which serves as a rigorous critique of mainstream transition economics.