If the Russians wanted a friendly critique of their society, they could have picked a more sympathetic source than the Economist of London (circ. 70,000). For 120 years, the magazine has shown a distinct distaste for government meddling in economic affairs, and Russian writers scornfully refer to it as "the mouthpiece of the City" and "Washington's advocate." Even so, one day last January, the Union of Soviet Journalists decided to invite a team of Economist reporters to make an extensive tour, all expenses paid.
Last week the fruit of that visit-a critical but...
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