reaucratic power. They began anticipating the collapse by becoming private businessmen: consultants and rainmakers (197). As Consultants and Rainmakers, they would assert their authority through protection. Academia states that protectionism is having a trenchant effect on the Russian economy. It helps create massive inflation to the already weak economy. The twenty percent of the gross earnings extorted from the business as protection raises the price of the goods and services tremendously for the Russian people monthly. The Russian consumer ultimately pays the protection bill (Goldman 58). It is estimated that in 1996 about eighty percent of all private businesses made regular payments to a mafia organization for protection and a substantial amount of that money ends up in other countries. (Gustatsun 104). Thus the underworld is taking a vast amount of wealth out of Russia. With the Russian Mafia handling so much money, it is little wonder that they were able to buy so many governmental officials. Scholars tend to take an objective approach. The Russian Mafia demands a cut of the profits, but does render a service that the authorities can not provide. This is having plundering effect on the economy as a whole. It is causing massive inflation and sinking the already weak economy. This has lead to a trend towards nationalism and separatism in Russia. The United States press understands that the Russian mafia had a definite place in society at one time. It grew because of the buying and selling of smuggled or stolen goods. It satisfied the Soviet consumer with products that the State failed to provide. These items were both consumer and illegal goods. It filled this role for decades under Soviet rule. The mafia was established and equipped to amplify its business during market reforms. It was more in touch with consumer demand (Tanner C2). Russia suffers the most due to mafiosi activities. It seems that gangs are threatening to take over...
