Defining state capitalism -- Russia: crony capitalism, Putin-style -- Kyrgyzstan: sad poster-child of neoliberalism -- Kazakhstan: a dual economy with developmental characteristics -- Uzbekistan: economic life under control and beyond control -- Tajikistan and Turkmenistan: predatory state...

In this book, one of Germany's most influential economists describes his country's economy, the largest in the European Union and the third largest in the world, and analyzes its weaknesses: poor GDP growth performance, high unemployment due to a malfunctioning labor market, and an unsustainable...