On "small" privatization in the Russian Federation (1992 to first quarter of 1993).

The final decision about the full-scale privatization of state enterprises on the territory of the Russian Federation came in 1992[1]. First, there was an ukase 66 of January 1992, signed by the President of the Russian Federation (ukase No. 66, 20 February 1992). Second, there was a decree by the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Federation No. 2931-1 of 5 June 1992 (pestanovlenie No. 2931-1, 9 July 1992).

In the same year numerous decrees were subsequently issued in order to amend, correct or reverse some of the articles of the original documents. However, the ultimate goal of privatization in 1992 remained intact.

The goal was twofold. First, the state enterprises, scheduled to be sold to the public in 1992, were to be small by the volume of their activities. They were to include those which produced and distributed consumer goods and services. Second, their privatization had to be done during an extremely short period of time ("The New Russian Revolution", 1992, p. 17).

This privatization stage was called "small" privatization. It did not intend to sell to the public large-scale industrial enterprises. The privatization of the latter, called "large" privatization, had to wait until some time in 1993.

What was the outcome of "small" privatization in Russia? Statistical data on the subject are published periodically by Goskomstat (the State Committee on Statistics of Russia). The latest figures show the outcome of privatization for the entire year of 1992. There are also some numbers on 1 March …