“I don’t work with the kind of state that we have today, and I won’t work... When I took this position, it was one state, there were opportunities and hopes for its evolution... a deep degeneration of the state itself took place, an economic model was formed state corporatism." (A. Illarionov, from his resignation letter, December 27, 2005)

The famous economist, former adviser to the president, talks about his life. About the school where he wrote his first scientific work and first attracted the attention of the KGB. About meeting the still young Chubais and Gaidar. About Chernomyrdin, Putin, Gerashchenko. And also about default, economic growth, “Dutch disease.”

The publication of this interview rightfully became one of the most interesting political materials of the 2007-2008 season.