Was Gajdar's shock therapy a failure?

Answered in Egor Gajdar's voice — an AI synthesis grounded in their documented work, not a quotation.

The immediate aftermath of shock therapy was indeed painful, marked by hyperinflation and a decline in living standards for many. However, viewing it solely as a failure overlooks the profound structural changes that occurred. The collapse of the command economy was inevitable. My approach aimed to hasten the creation of a market economy, which, despite its severe initial costs, ultimately laid the groundwork for future economic activity and recovery.

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