""In the 20th century, the Soviet Union made the state's role absolute. In the long run, this made the Soviet economy totally uncompetitive."

Actually, it took Russia from being a back-water, third-world embarrassment to a global super-power in less than two generations.

Ditto for China.

The arms race killed Russia.

Nothing's killed China.

China's going to bring the ox to its knees.

Like modern Russia is an icon of free market economics and democracy.

Putin is the last person you want to listen to when it comes to advice regarding the economy.

First of all, one of Putin's primary interests is keeping statism alive and well in Russia and he's doing a good, balanced job of it.

Secondly, this is, as always, another piece of pointless and obscure prophetic 'warnings' from his writing staff. It is, once again, exploitation of national sentiment. They've got a damn good reason for feeling this way, but the Russian people won't accept any blame or reprimands from the West for at least another 20-30 years, so the Kremlin are always keen to 'return the favor', which this is an example of.

Soviet Union?

A living nightmare of secret police, gulags, work camps, hours standing in breadlines for nonexistent bread, massive natural resources squandered. At no time was the fetid existence of that evil empire cause for celebration.