Talent buried in dollars
Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich, having concentrated enormous power in his hands (since 2012, he oversees the entire infinitely diverse and diverse real sector, except for the defense industry!), Has become, as far as can be judged, the Achilles heel of not only the Medvedev government, but also the entire federal government. Numerous phenomenal statements about depriving students of even beggarly scholarships (especially cynical against the background of his defrauding his unfair study at MSU), about the population’s readiness to raise the retirement age, about golf courses, restaurants and concert halls as a means of attracting investors, entrepreneurs and scientists in “Skolkovo,” are no longer perceived as the excusable eccentricity of a young talent. A large part of the society recoils in horror from the image of another liberal monster, steeped in connections with dubious businessmen and, it seems, not disdaining even raiding (in which ex-world chess champion Anatoly Karpov accused him not). It is no coincidence that the official propaganda of the last few years is trying with all its might not to attract attention to it, thanks to which, last October, he was recognized by VTsIOM as the least known member of the government of Medvedev (his post correctly indicated only 1% of respondents). But Dvorkovich is by no means an ordinary "effective manager," not a senseless fiend of a liberal higher educational institution: not the usual "creative thief" who is not sorry. That once again podderdilo his sensational speech at the Asian Economic Forum in Jakarta (Indonesia), where Dvorkovich sensationally spoke out against the "empire of the dollar."
Moscow major?
Unlike most older liberals, Dvorkovich was born and raised in Moscow. Mother is a design engineer, father is a renowned international chess referee; in a country where chess was a cult sport and, for many, a way of life, it meant a lot. Dvorkovich graduated from school with an in-depth study of mathematics, but preferred to play football rather than chess (though they recall politically correct about this: the student “always said that it is more important to train the mind and logic than the legs”).
According to his own recollections, he entered the economics department of Moscow State University by a “miracle”: “he got a little confused in mathematics and put a dozen extra commas in his work. And then he came to the exam on stories without the right to get below five points, but without knowing either the culture of medieval Europe or the succession of Russian emperors. ”Meanwhile, the specialty“ economic cybernetics ”in which Dvorkovich studied was famous for its careful study of mathematics - and, accordingly, the entrance exams were highly demanding precisely for this science.
Having escaped the army (where at that time they were called upon from humanitarian universities), Dvorkovich did not bother himself with studies: he shamelessly skipped, played sports, went to Peter to stare at Sobchak. I learned the real economy, albeit in the form of cronyism: an acquaintance got employed by the seller, according to Dvorkovich, “the most beautiful fast-food restaurant in the world” (“McDonald’s”, if anyone does not know), “and carried out ... filled with food packages ... to the entrance, where we waited for another delight under the hated looks from the hungry line. " It seems that the worship of civilization, which gave rise to, according to its formulation, the "treasured big Mac", Dvorkovich carried from his time through his whole life.
Dvorkovich graduated from Moscow State University, according to his words, as sloppily as he was in him: "My absence at Moscow State University predetermined the need to share risks with friends ... We wrote the diploma work one for two with a friend theatrical ... Claims could not be avoided, but our own fives we got.
Such a lifestyle, coupled with firm confidence in "their fives," was characteristic of students who had reinforced concrete shovels of a type far from McDonalds alone. Dvorkovich had a great influence on his way of life: as his subsequent statements showed, the thought that one of the students really gains knowledge, and does not play the fool during his studies, has remained alien to him.
But the decisive impact on the future of the “prince of Liberastiya” (“liberast” - abbreviation of the term “liberal fundamentalist”, introduced by M. Khazin) was rendered not by the Moscow State University, but by the Russian Economic School (NES), obtained in the same 1994 year Founded at 1992 in Moscow by Gur Ofer, a professor at the University of Jerusalem, and academician Makarov (rector was an eminent liberal Guriev in 2004-2013), NES was called upon to become a forge of ideological liberal cadres for reformers, but due to administrative weakness, it lost to the Higher School of Economics.
As far as can be judged, it was precisely in the capacity of the Master of Economics according to the NES Dvorkovich version that in 1994 he became a consultant to the newly created Economic Expert Group (EEG) at the Ministry of Finance of Russia.
Under the wing of the Ministry of Finance: expert support
The group was headed by a German entrepreneur, Johan Vermouth, almost the same age as Dvorkovich, who did not have a secondary education and graduated from Brown University in the United States, known, he said, because it was there that the term "political correctness" was invented. The university itself has positioned itself as the “most liberal” in the United States: it is the only one where the student has the right to fully determine the list of subjects studied.
The appointment method was even shocked by Vermouth: "In March 1993, I saw an ad that a specialist was required who could work as an adviser on the Russian economy in a group led by Jeffrey Sachs ... I was taken. After three weeks of work in this group, I went to the ambassador and told that during all this time I did not see a single Russian. ... They hinted that I was required to just pretend that the projects were being implemented, since such an order of things suits everyone. When I tried to complain, I was fired. But ... I managed write ... pre Prime Minister Egor Gaidar (foreigners were not interested in the formal position of their key lobbyist: from the post of Acting Prime Minister Gaidar flew 1992 in December, and Acting First Deputy Prime Minister was from September 1993 to January 1994 of the year. - Editor's Note ), ... that if Russia was selling oil at world prices (domestically. - Author's note), it could double the GDP. I was already on my way to the airport when I got a call from the receptionist Gaidar ... Gaidar asked me three questions: How much are you years old ...? - 23. How long have you been in Russia? - Three weeks. Do you speak Russian? - Not a word. "Well, we need you in the expert group under the Ministry of Finance of Russia" ... I asked with surprise why? Gaidar replied: “Who speaks Russian? Spies and Communists. Neither of us nor the others are needed. "" ...
Vermouth recalled with exhaustive frankness about the work at the Ministry of Finance: "My main advantage was that I knew how to use a computer ... while many of the staff of the Ministry of Finance used accounts."
In 1994, he headed the Economic Expert Group under the Ministry of Finance, created with the money of the European Union and the World Bank, designed to "provide analytical assistance to the Department of Macroeconomic Policy of the Ministry of Finance."
Funds were allocated to tasks that were really significant for the West (say, the destruction of the industry of the Nizhny Novgorod region), but then control also took place (it was not by chance that Nemtsov’s foreign advisers, when he was the governor, who didn’t complete the task, went to court in the US and partially even in prison - formally for the theft of American money). However, the bulk of the "help" allocated "to support and deepen reforms" was spent by reformers and their partners almost at their own discretion.
But the Yeltsin era is over; the old liberals were completely discredited in the eyes of society, and the authorities needed new ones, not tainted by privatization, “seven banks” and default, but still ready to realize the interests of global business at any cost.
On the crest of a wave: power and influence
Preparations for Putin’s presidential elections included the development of a ten-year strategy for socio-economic development. Dvorkovich made a major step in his career by becoming an expert at the Center for Strategic Research, headed by Gref.
In the same period, Dvorkovich joined the circle of co-authors of the “Economic Strategy of Russia in the First Decade of the 21st Century,” prepared by the foundation “Liberal Mission” founded by two gurus of the liberal clan, Gaidar and Yasin. This was the final "quality mark": the liberal clan recognized him completely as his own.
After the appointment of Gref as Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Dvorkovich turned out to be his adviser, and since 2001 of the year - and deputy.
Evil tongues explained such a rapid take-off by homosexual relations, but Dvorkovich's tenacious mind and his performance make such speculation superfluous. Gref found an enterprising performer who was ready to “close” the area that was important for him, and he promoted him by putting him on this area.
At the Ministry of Economic Development, Dvorkovich was engaged in macroeconomic policy, finance, investment and banks, steadily increasing influence and expanding the circle of useful acquaintances. In fact, he was responsible for a wide range of strategic issues and for conducting liberal reforms in general.
After the failure of the "Berezovsky plot", the rapid resignation of Kasyanov and the de facto paralysis of the government during the panic administrative reform of 2004, Dvorkovich headed the presidential expert department: in the government of the patriotic Zubkov, the notorious liberal was uncomfortable.
With the start of Medvedev's nomination as a successor, Dvorkovich, as one of the most consistent liberals, was actively involved in this work. The figure of Medvedev was introduced into the public consciousness with the help of a bouquet of "national projects", and in July 2006, Dvorkovich became a member of the presidium of the presidential council that they dealt with.
In the government, Medvedev became his deputy in charge of the entire real sector, and still maintains this position, working on the most diverse range of issues - from the development of the Arctic shelf to the schedule of suburban electric trains.
Dvorkovich remains an integral and extremely influential part of the liberal clan and participates in events that are significant to him. Thus, during the conflict between “Uralkali” and “Belkaliy” in August 2013, which, as far as can be judged now, is a large-scale and largely successful provocation against the reintegration of the post-Soviet space, Dvorkovich strongly opposed the Belarusian authorities, even while on vacation abroad, although he hadn’t reacted in any way to the events in Russia, including the monstrous floods directly affecting his sphere of responsibility in the Far East. Recall that according to a number of reports, this flood was, if not caused, then in any case dramatically increased by the actions of the management of hydroelectric power plants, received on the basis of commercial logic contrary to the interests of public safety, and the energy sector is supervised by Dvorkovich as the entire real sector.
There is no doubt that the upcoming large-scale and diverse actions of the liberal clan Dvorkovich will take an active and effective part.
It is no coincidence that he formulated his strategic goal: "We strive to minimize its (state)".
And it is no coincidence that it was he who in the chased formula, called the “Dvorkovich Maxim,” expressed the whole essence of the economic policy of the liberal clan: Russia must pay for the financial stability of the United States.
Killing a Professional: Causes and Effects
Back in the Economic Expert Group, Dvorkovich demonstrated an accounting mindset that opened up a perspective for him within the Ministry of Finance.
But the liberal clan did not allow Dvorkovich to realize his natural inclinations. Pathological organisms generally use resources inefficiently, appointing Chikatilo to manage kindergartens instead of forestries and plant poets for cash.
The liberal fundamentalists had as many accountants as they wanted, but they were sorely lacking in strategic managers. This is caused by the very essence of modern liberalism: the strategic manager sees the absurdity and unnaturalness of attempts to put the state in the service of global business against its people and therefore leaves the liberal clique. But the need for "strategists" remains - and a young specialist was nominated for the job, who believed in his star and made a phenomenal career.
But from the point of view of the profession, it gave the impression of murder: an accountant cannot be a strategic manager, like a eunuch - a symbol of masculinity.
And Dvorkovich became a laughing stock - at least for very many. The forerunner of the crisis hit Russia in September 2007, and in early October he promised: in a few weeks, the problems "will be a thing of the past - and we will not see even a semblance of a financial crisis, and the liquidity crisis will bypass us."
On the eve of the 2008 crisis, he said: "Russian stocks ... are undervalued, so the RTS and MICEX will rise in the coming weeks and months." Indexes fell respectively in 3,5 and 2,9 times.
Dvorkovich denied a credit crisis in September 2008, promised in November that “the budget is not threatened with a deficit in the coming months, and even if it starts, the economy will continue to grow at a high rate,” and in December promised 2 percent GDP growth in 2009. In fact, the federal budget deficit was 6,0% of GDP, and the decline in GDP was 7,8%.
And in February 2009, Dvorkovich officially announced the complete overcoming of the crisis - literally on the eve of his final blow.
The list can be extended almost indefinitely, but Dvorkovich’s career has been and continues to go uphill: either by virtue of Medvedev’s location, which seems to belong to the same psychological type, or because, according to estimates, the Vice-Premier’s area of responsibility clearly intersects with his friends' business interests. "
In the 2009 year, according to Navalny, it was Dvorkovich who lobbied for the rescue of RusAl Oleg Deripaska by the forces of the state Vnesheconombank (sent over 600 million dollars to repurchase shares) and Sberbank (who had announced readiness to refinance debt with Vnesheconombank) Rusal "in the amount of 4,5 billion dollars.).
From 2004 to 2008, Dvorkovich was a member of the board of directors of Transneft; At this time, the company was repeatedly subject to allegations of corruption and withdrawal of funds. In the end, the Accounts Chamber checked the work of the company in 2008 and found violations on 4 billion dollars. These data became known only due to information leakage, but soon after checking Dvorkovich left Transneft.
Numerous scandals were associated with the interaction of Dvorkovich with the Summa group of the Magomedov brothers.
Dvorkovich's spouse Zumrud Rustamova, as far as can be judged, received millions for membership in the boards of directors of Rosgosstrakh, ALROSA, Rosagroleasing, MMK, Sheremetyevo Airport and other companies. For a liberal, there is not even a shadow of corruption: after all, only officials themselves should not be on the boards of directors, and their wives can be either “super efficient businessmen” (such as Luzhkov’s wife or who implemented pension reform and monetize Zurabov’s benefits) managers. "
As befits a liberal fundamentalist, Dvorkovich pushes the speeding up of even deliberately senseless privatization. A classic example is the sale of 7,58% of Sberbank shares in 2012 in the year cheaper than the previously announced 100 rubles per share. 95% sold bought by foreign firms, real buyers are unknown: it is "sovereignty" and "deoffshorizatsiya." But the proceeds were not budgeted for and therefore were doomed to go to support Western finances through the Reserve Fund and the National Wealth Fund.
Not so long ago, Dvorkovich played a vivid role in the next scandal. Since the beginning of 2015, due to the liberal reform of rail transport, which artificially created a number of monopolies, and the crisis of regional budgets in three areas, commuter trains have been completely canceled, and in the whole country 312 commuter trains were canceled.
Upon learning of this, President Putin turned to 4 in February: “I think you are in charge of this industry. What is going on? Have you lost your mind or something?”
After that, Dvorkovich, who had previously planned to solve the problem within two months, promised to submit a financial plan for the day and to solve the problem jointly with Russian Railways in a month.
The railway workers restored all routes almost instantly, but from the 73 regions where the trains run, by the end of March, the agreements were signed only with 52, all short-term, only for 2015 a year. At the same time, at the end of March, four regions refused a number of restored routes: as far as can be judged, there was no money to satisfy the appetites of the monopolists.
It is characteristic that Dvorkovich, dealing with this problem, focused on resolving the symptoms of the problem and started looking for funds, completely ignoring its causes - monopolism. This is not only a feature of a purely financial thinking, not perceiving structural categories, it is also a visible manifestation of a liberal worldview by which restricting the arbitrariness of monopolies is unacceptable, for robbery of the consumer, as far as can be judged, is the highest form of sacred freedom of entrepreneurship.
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Once a budding economist, today Dvorkovich, poisoned by liberal fundamentalism, seems capable of doing only harm.
His example is a good lesson in what liberalism makes even with intelligent and talented specialists.
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