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fenilizers thai are denied to ordinary farmers. 



• But there does not appear to be the formation of a new rural elite. 



• There are two sets of factors at work precluding the rise of a rural elite, at least in the 

 short-term. 



• First, there arc institutional restrictions, as seen above. Despite the fact that rural 

 differentiation is occurring, the government has absolutely no intention of allowing a rural 

 elite to emerge. 



• The second obstacle to the emergence of a riiral elite is rural conservatism, manifest as 

 a basic aversion to free land sales and a residual anti-kulak attitude in the countryside. 

 CONCLUSION 



• Despite the rhetoric for the peasant to "enrich himself," in fact the state has intervened 

 in order to uy to enforce an egalitarian policy among rural dwellers in reform . 



• The effects of rural egalitarianism on reform outcomes are clear. 



• Rural egalitarianism prevents the rise of a stratum of strong, efficient farmers. 



• Those who have been successful at some degree of differentiation are few in number 

 and most likely cannot boost production significantly in the foreseeable future. 



• Overall, the peasant farm movement is comprised of small fanns-three persons on 

 average; there is little machiner>' on farms, less than one tractor per farm; farms have just 

 few head of livestock; and "farmers" are overwhelmingly former urban residents looking 

 for reliable food supplies. 



• Within the land reform movement, private plots have been the most popular fonn of 

 land privatization. 



• Given that the peasant farm movement is plagued with political and economic 

 difficulties which constrain their production, it is likely that Russia will remain a food 

 importer for at least the near-term. 



