Hybrid Forms of Enterprise Organization in the Former USSR and the Russian Federation

Abstract

This paper develops a typology of enterprise organizations, and presents evidence on the nature and scope of several new hybrid forms introduced into the Soviet economy during perestroika, focusing on the four most significant: cooperatives, leased firms, joint stock companies, and joint ventures. The role, impact and implications of these organizational forms are examined using several quantitative indicators of the overall structure of economic organization, as well as data on key features and regional incidence. Evidence on diverse issues, including the comparative performance of different organizational forms and the effects of some of the new forms on income distribution, is presented; we find some evidence of relatively successful performance by several of the hybrid forms of enterprise. In a concluding section we speculate on possible implications of our findings for plans to transform state enterprises into fully private enterprises.