Isn't it equally interesting to look at the two decades just passed? Nobody does. Of course, future is always more interesting because you can theorize instead of analyze, but in the next couple of decades it would turn boring past, too.
Of course we look at the past. But how would you summarise the last 2 decades in the ex-USSR region from the point of view of 'Business Friendliness'. Is it getting better or worse? Are our standards changing, I certainly hope they are.
- There is an actual economy (there wasn't after the collapse of USSR)
- It is possible to run a "white" business paying taxes and social securities (During the 199x it was possible to add up all taxes on profit and get e. g. 102%, meaning that you have to pay 102 roubles in taxes for every 100 you earn:)
- There were all sorts of organized crime. They are no longer. (At least they never intervene with the normal leagal business these days. Because I understand how "There is no longer any organized crime" would be seen as overstatement).
There are surely still many problems, but you just can't compare.
