Browsing by Author "Lundgren, Nils-Gustav"

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Forest Enterprises in Transition: Business Behavior in the Tomsk Forest Sector
(1999) Carlsson, Lars; Lundgren, Nils-Gustav; Olsson, Mats-Olov
"The overall aim of this study and a sequence of other case studies conducted by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is to establish a foundation for a better understanding of the transformation of the Russian forest sector.1 In this study, however, we concentrate on the single enterprise. The basic goal is to provide in-depth information regarding positive and negative aspects of the transformation of the forest sector as the process is perceived by the actors themselves, i.e., managers and other stakeholders related to various forest enterprises. This analysis is aimed at contributing information useful for the creation and identification of appropriate options for policy making. In short, one aim is to contribute research that might make the Russian forest sector better suited to generate economic welfare under sustainable management of its resources."
If Money Only Grew on Trees: The Russian Forest Sector in Transition
(2000) Carlsson, Lars; Olsson, Mats-Olov; Lundgren, Nils-Gustav
From Introduction: "'Russia is endowed with enormous forest resources.' Unfortunately, this is a common claim based on misconception. Russia does not have enormous forest resources but a tremendous amount of forests, which is something quite different. "Why is Russia, despite its affluence in terms of forests,unable to utilize its endowments to generate economic growth and social welfare? What happened to all the hope that the forest sector would become a central engine in the transition toward a Russian market economy? This article attempts to answer these questions by using the forest sector as an example,but other sectors would certainly apply."
Institutions and the Emergence of Markets: Transition in the Arkhangelsk Forest Sector
(1999) Carlsson, Lars; Lundgren, Nils-Gustav; Olsson, Mats-Olov; Varakin, Mikhail Yu
"The aim of this project is to describe and analyze the current institutional framework of the Russian forest sector. This is done through a series of case studies in several Russian regions. In this report we present the results of a study in the Arkhangelsk region in northern Russia."
Prerequisites for the Evolution of Markets: An Institutional Analysis of Russian Forestry: A Project Proposal and its Funding Needs
(1996) Carlsson, Lars; Lundgren, Nils-Gustav; Olsson, Mats-Olov
"Contemporary research indicates that the wood supply from the USA, Canada, and the tropical areas will decline. The Russian forests are underexploited, and have the potential to fill this gap. This is, however, primarily depending on whether adequate institutional arrangements will be developed in order to smoothen the entrance and the entrenchment in this new market. In this context it is important to emphasize that institutional arrangements are not to be understood as formal organizations and formally written laws and regulations. Institutions are 'the rules of the game,' i.e., those formal or informal rules that are de facto used by a set of actors. Such institutional arrangement, well functioning, is a basic prerequisite for the development of Russian forestry. Logically, a Russian forestry sector poorly governed will be a severe obstacle for the transition to a market economy. "It is important to realize that forests are no resources per se. Only within a framework of institutional arrangements can a forest resource be regarded as an asset in an economic sense. Socio-economic development requires new institutions to facilitate the processes. The forestry sector can be expected to play a significant role in this development. Trade, transport, management, marketing, etc., and, in the end, the sustainable utilization of the entire Russian forest resource, are dependent on the establishment of an adequate institutional framework. When referring to institutional arrangements relevant for forestry, we mean, among other things, the existence of market information systems, rules, technology, and so forth. We also refer to the clarity and simplicity of rules of trade, financing, contracting, etc. Finally, we refer to a whole cluster of variables related to property rights, ownership, usufruct rights, monitoring and sanctioning of infringements, etc."
Why is the Russian Bear Still Asleep After Ten Years of Transition?
(2000) Carlsson, Lars; Lundgren, Nils-Gustav; Olsson, Mats-Olov
"By virtue of its former importance in the Russian economy and its future prospects for wealth creation the forest sector is a good illustration of the Russian dilemma. The nation seems to have it all: resources, people, endless needs to be fulfilled and in comparison to many poor areas of the world there already exists a production apparatus, however underutilized. Yet, despite deliberate efforts to induce the 'blessings' of capitalism, the 'Russian Bear' still seems to be asleep. How can this be explained? Answering this question is the task of this article. Presumably the answer is relevant not only for the forest sector but for other sectors of the Russian economy as well. The article aims at increasing our understanding of the creation of a market economy by providing the fundamental insight that there are no easy top-down procedures that automatically lead to this goal."