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Strategies & Market Trends : ahhaha's ahs -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: GraceZ who wrote (3562)	11/16/2001 12:24:51 PM
From: ahhaha	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 24758

The reason the drug dealers can still do it is because the return is so high even after you account for the risks. This isn't true. The return is an illusion for the reasons I gave. There are always going to be people who find it worthwhile and the risk manageble in an environment where you have to hire ex-KGB body guards, as well as knowing who you have to pay protection money. They can try but they won't last. You have to operate legally to survive. Capitalism requires law.

To: GraceZ who wrote (3562)	11/16/2001 1:47:16 PM
From: Keith Monahan	Respond to of 24758

There are always going to be people who find it worthwhile and the risk manageble in an environment where you have to hire ex-KGB body guards, as well as knowing who you have to pay protection money. Just to clarify, I know it is a fine line, but foreign companies in Russia are generally not paying protection money. The pay for security and the influence certain security firms are able to provide. There is nothing illegal about this practice. To me it doesn't look all that different from having to travel around with your well armed "homies" and paying off the local narc. Neither looks attractive to me. Everything is relative, one could also say U.S. companies often choose their Board members for their ability to provide influence. Paying for security in Russia is just a crude version of this practice. Bottom line, the entrepreneurs I met in Russia developed a thriving, profitable company from the ground up despite the challenges. It was a win/win for them and the thousands of Russians that are now employed because of their efforts.