Gaidar

Gaidar is a Russian surname. The most widely known bearer is Yegor Timurovich Gaidar (1956–2009), an economist and liberal reformer who played a central role in Russia’s post-Soviet transition. Gaidar served in the Russian government during the early 1990s and was briefly the acting prime minister in 1992. He advocated rapid market-oriented reforms, including price liberalization, privatization, and macroeconomic stabilization. His policy approach, often described as shock therapy, aimed to move the economy quickly from central planning toward market mechanisms. The reforms sparked extensive debate, with supporters crediting the foundation for a market economy and critics citing social hardship and inflation.

The name Gaidar is associated with several policy and research institutions named in his honor. The Gaidar Institute for Economic Policy in Moscow conducts independent research on macroeconomic policy, structural reforms, and development strategy. The institute has organized events such as the Gaidar Forum, an international conference that brings together policymakers, researchers, and business leaders to discuss economic issues affecting Russia and the wider region.

Beyond Yegor Gaidar, the surname may refer to other individuals bearing the name, or to entities and discussions that reference his legacy. In contemporary contexts, Gaidar is primarily linked to discussions of Russia’s economic reform era and to institutions named after Yegor Gaidar.