The late Yegor Gaidar, Russia’s first pro-reform prime minister, warned the government about the consequences of inflated oil prices, repeatedly arguing that excessive spending growth would undermine the political will for retrenchment when it became necessary. Gaidar died last year, his unheeded warnings having come true, proving once again that no man is ever a successful prophet in his own country.
俄罗斯改革后上任的首位总理盖达尔就虚高的油价所带来的后果曾向政府提出过警告，他反复强调支出的过度增长会在必要的时候削弱政府削减支出的意志。盖达尔在去年离世，而他那未被关注的警告却正在成为事实，这再度证实了在他的国家内永远没有人能成为一个成功的预言家。