Virtually all of the countries formerly part of the Soviet Union today find themselves troubled by economic crime, both real (extortion by "mafias") and imagined (legitimate price markups by businesses, sometimes regarded as theft by Russians who have a limited understanding of market economics). How can ethical business practices be applied in such an unsettled environment of criminal activity in the marketplace and wide-spread disrespect for the rule of law? This is the theme of a conference to be held from April 21-23 at Wheaton College in Illinois.

The conference, "Economic Crime and the Prospects for a Market Economy in the Former Soviet Union," is sponsored by Wheaton’s Institute for East-West Christian Studies. The purpose is to examine "the role that business ethics can and should play in the development of a rational and humane market system in the former Soviet Union."

Speakers include Fr. Georgi Edelstein, Russian Orthodox priest and human rights advocate; Dr. Alexander Zaichenko, Business and Market Program Director at Moscow's Academy of National Economy; and Dr. Marshall I. Goldman, Professor of Economics at Wellesley College and Associate Director of the Russian Research Center at Harvard.

The conference is intended for all those interested in the rapidly changing economics and politics of post-Soviet Russia, including students, entrepreneurs and representatives of nonprofit organizations.

Registration is $65 (students, $30) and the deadline is March 31.

Economic Crime Conference
IEWCS
Wheaton College
Wheaton, IL 60187-5593
Tel. (708) 752-5917
Fax (708) 752-5555
Email: [email protected]. edu

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