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This is a Working Paper and the author would welcome any comments on the present text. Citations should refer to a Working Paper of the Inlemalional Monetary Fund. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Fund.

The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the author(s) and are published to elicit comments and to further debate.The collapse of the Cuban economy following the cessation of Soviet assistance gave way to a strong recovery in 1994-96. There are three possible explanations for this recovery: (i) that it never took place; (ii) that it reflected a surge in productivity resulting from stabilization and liberalization in 1993-94; or (iii) that it resulted from a favorable aggregate demand shock. The second explanation-the most persuasive---suggests that a strong and durable expansion will probably not be achieved on the basis of present policies, but that the benefits of a full liberalization of the economy are likely to be considerable.

This paper reviews the experience with macroeconomic stabilization in Russia during the 2 1/2 years following the beginning of reforms in January 1992. It focuses on the different perceptions about the nature, the causes and the consequences of inflation in Russia and about the policies required to deal with it. It recounts the authorities 1 efforts to control inflation and discusses the major political obstacles to stabilization, including the pressures for subsidized credits, budgetary transfers and tax exemptions and interenterprise arrears. Finally, it examines the role of IMF-supported programs in the process.

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