Vladimir Kvint

Vladimir Kvint is an economist and strategist, the President of the International Academy of Emerging Markets, and an Adjunct Professor (since 2005) at La Salle University's School of Business (Pennsylvania, USA). In parallel, since 2007, he has been the Chair of the Department of Financial Strategy at the Moscow School of Economics of the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University. He is a Foreign Member (ad vitum) of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 2010 Vladimir L. Kvint has been elected as a Fellow of The World Academy of Art and Science. In addition to his professorship, he is currently and has been a consultant to governments of several countries. From 2009 to 2012 he was the Global Head of Emerging Markets at one of the largest in the world and oldest architectural and planning company RMJM. Kvint’s work appeared in The New York Times and Harvard Business Review, among others. He has been a contributor to Forbes magazine in which he published his most profound forecast on February 5, 1990, predicting the exact year - 1991- of the fall of the Soviet Union. In addition, he is a member of the Editorial Boards of several professional publications.

Early life

Vladimir Kvint was born in Krasnoyarsk into a family of engineers. He then moved to Norilsk, the most northern city in the world, located 1,000 miles above the Arctic Circle. He began his 14-year career in the non-ferrous metals industry at the age of 14 as a construction and metal worker. Most of Kvint’s education was completed in parallel with his professional and athletic activities ( boxing). By the age of 27 Kvint had established himself as the Chief Economist and Vice Chairman of a major Russian high-tech company in addition to successfully earning his Ph.D. in Economics ( at age of 26 ) and being well educated in the fields of Mining-Electrical Engineering and Law.

Early career in industry

Norilisk Mining - Metallurgical Concern- MMC Norilsk Nickel

Despite an invitation to work as an associate professor in Moscow, Kvint returned north to Norilsk, the most Northern city in the world, located above the Arctic Circle. Between 1975 and 1978, he continued his work in the mining-metallurgical industry. He founded and was Chief of the Department of Organization Management at the Norilsk Mining –Metallurgical Concern, later renamed MMC Norilsk Nickel, which was the largest Russian enterprise (150,000 employees) and still the largest producer worldwide of nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium and osmium. Under his leadership, the company’s first General Organizational Structure, focusing on the strategic improvement of final products was developed. The theoretical results of his work were published in Moscow in 1976, "The Acceleration of the Industrial-Technical Development". This book received the U.S.S.R. Annual Award “Best Popular Scholarly Book of the Year”.

Sib Tsvemet Automatica

In 1976, Kvint was promoted to the position of Deputy Director General and Deputy Chairman of “SibTsvemetAutomatica,” a scientific-technological company, which automated the non-ferrous metals industry throughout the former U.S.S.R. [4]. He was responsible for economic policy, business planning, the organization of compensation systems, and accounting departments in this company of 5,000 employees. Under Kvint’s economic strategy, this company became one of the first self-sufficient firms in the U.S.S.R. despite the Soviet command planning system. In addition, he was Chief of the Forecasting Economics Laboratory of the Non-ferrous Metals and Gold Industry, and prepared strategies and forecasts for the non-ferrous and precious metals and diamond industries.

Later career in education and lecturing

Arctic Seaway Economic Expedition

In 1978, he was invited to join the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union, and was elected as the Chief of the Department of Regional Problems of Scientific-Technological Progress at the Institute of Economy and Industrial Organization of the Siberian Branch of the USSR Academy of Sciences. The Siberian School of Economics was at that time under the leadership of the world-renowned economists Abel Aganbegyan and Nobel Laureate in Economics Leonid Kantorovich.

In the Academy, Kvint found a lack of accurate empirical statistics and economic information. As a result, many economic studies based on this incorrect information had no practical use. With Kvint’s business experience, he immediately recognized this serious problem and developed the methods of studying economic situations, natural resources, and strategic business opportunities through the organization of Complex Economic Expeditions.

In 1979 the Chairman of the Siberian branch of the Academy appointed him to head these expeditions. Several of these major expeditions were unprecedented. For example, in 1980 the academicians ventured across the entire eight seas of the Arctic Seaway by ship, helicopter and SUV. Another economic expedition traveled through three seas along the entire Pacific Coast of Russia to evaluate the area’s natural resources and productive forces.[Capitalizing on the New Russia, Arcade Publishing: New York, 1993 p. 29-33]

Research at the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow)

In 1982, Kvint was elected as a Senior Researcher and then as the Head of Department and later a Leading Scholar at the Institute of Economics of the USSR Academy of Sciences(Moscow). During these nine years he discovered and developed the concept of two new global trends: Regionalization and Technologization. He defined the category of regional scientific-technological policy and the role of this policy in the reduction of poverty and ecological protection. In the late 1980s he came up with the theory of regional and global emerging markets.

In 1986, he wrote the report on the organization of strategic development of scientific-technological process which he brought to the attention of the Council of Ministers of the Soviet Union, explaining that without the activation of these factors, as well as the function of motivation, the Soviet Union would have no economic future. After this predication, Kvint again faced a great deal of pressure from the Soviet power structure.[March 7, 1990 Komsomolskaya Pravda (Moscow)]

In 1985, Kvint prepared his second Doctoral dissertation on the “Regional Management of the Scientific-Technological Development of the National Economy”. Among the consequences of Kvint’s recommendations would have been the decentralization of the Soviet command economy. As a result, he was not allowed to present his dissertation to the Scientific Council until February 1988, when he finally received the highest European scientific degree- Habilitation-“Doctor of Sciences in Economics”. In 1989, he received the lifetime title of “Professor of Political Economy” - the highest state academic title in the former Soviet Bloc. Many years later, in 2011 by decree of the President of the Russian Federation he was awarded with titlе of Honored professor of Higher Education of the Russian Federation.

The fundamental ideas of Kvint’s theories were explored in his dissertations and books. Since 1989, he has continued his studies in Austria, and then in the United States. However, the development of his theory of the Global Emerging Market has its roots in all of his years of scholarly activity. For these studies, Kvint would later receive international recognition [Kvint, Vladimir, The Global Emerging Market in Transition. Fordham University Press, 2006; Kvint Vladimir, The Global Emerging Market: Strategic Management and Economics. Routledge, New York, London, 2009]. Developing his earlier strategic studies he contributed to theory of strategy and came up with his on Theory of Holistic Strategy [Kvint Vladimir, Strategy for the Global Market. Routledge, New York, London, 2016].

European professorship and international lecturing

In 1988 and 1989, Kvint was finally allowed to travel outside of the Soviet Union, upon which he gave speeches and lectures on the results of his studies. He was invited to many universities and prestigious academic centers in Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, China, the United States, Great Britain, and Germany. Among his many lectures was his speech in front of the Presidium of the Royal Belgian Academy of Sciences. In 1989-1990, he worked as a visiting professor at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration, an institution with more than 100 years of history. During his academic carrier he was invited to give lectures in Universities of many European nations including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, England, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Scotland, Turkey and Ukraine. In 2009 Professor Kvint gave a lecture at London School of Economics and Political Science., in 2010 - in the Scottish Parliament, in 2011 at Imperial College London and since 2009 every year in The University of Edinburgh.

Since 1990, Kvint has lived and worked in the United States where he has been granted citizenship. In 1990, he gave lectures and consultations in several think tanks and leading corporations of the United States including the RAND Corp, Kissinger Associates, General Electric, General Motors, Transamerica, Timex, and the Exxon Corporation, among others.

Professorship in the U.S.A.

Kvint’s first professorship was in International Economics department at Babson College, MA, a worldwide leading school of Entrepreneurial Studies. Following this, from 1990, until the Fall of 2004, Kvint was a Professor of Management Systems and International Business at Fordham University's Gabelli School of Business. In addition to his professorship at Fordham, from 1995 through 2000 Kvint served as an Adjunct Professor of International Business Strategy at New York University's Stern School of Business. He developed major elements of his theory of the Global Emerging Market and Theory of Holistic Strategy, presented it at many conferences and published six books and several articles in major U.S. academic and business magazines, journals and newspapers. Between 2004 and 2007, he was a Professor of International Business at the Kogod School of Business of American University in Washington, D.C.[2]. During this period, he taught the following courses- Fundamentals of International Business, The Global Marketplace, Export-Import Management, Comparative Management Systems and developed and taught the Global Emerging Market course for Honors Program students. Since 2005 Vladimir Kvint is an Adjunct Professor of International Business Strategy at La Salle University in Pennsylvania.

U.S. and European consulting practice and directorship

Since 1989, Kvint has been an Economic Consultant to the General Electric Corporation, Cable & Wireless plc (of Great Britain), Timex Corporation, Tosco Corporation, Engelhard Corporation,and Hogan and Hartson LLP- one of the largest law firms in the world. From 1992-1998, Kvint was the Director of Emerging Markets at Arthur Andersen, at the time, the largest professional auditing and consulting services firm in the world. This job gave him the opportunity to study emerging market countries of Latin America, Pacific Asia, and Eastern Europe and to implement his theory into practice. Between 1997 and 2000 Kvint was a member of the Board of Directors of PLD Telecom (later merged with Metromedia International Telecom Inc.) a publicly traded company on NASDAQ and the Toronto Stock Exchange[3].

His consulting and professorship activity was always used as a continuation of his studies and research activity. Kvint was the Chairman of the World Economic Development Congress' Summit for Institutional Investors (Washington D.C, 1995); the World Economic Development Congress' Global Risk Management Summit, (Washington D.C, 1996); and the International Banking Congress: US-CIS and Baltics, (NYC, 1997). He was an Economic Advisor to the President of the United Nations General Assembly. Between 1996 and 2001, Kvint was an economic adviser to the King of Bulgaria, Simeon II. In 2001, the King returned to Bulgaria and was elected Prime Minister. Between 2001 and 2005, Dr Kvint was an advisor to the government of Albania. Between 2006 - 2008, Dr Kvint was Chairman of the Board of Directors of seaport terminal “Morskoiy Vokzal” in Saint Petersburg (Russia) [4].

Awards

For the development of the theory of regional scientific-technological programs, Vladimir Kvint was awarded with Silver Medal “For The Achievements in National Economy”, 1986 (Russia), Artiom award, 1986 (Ukraine), and Proclamation of the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences, 1986 (Russia)

In 1992, Kvint was awarded a two-year scholarship by the Wexner Heritage Foundation (New York City)[5] and in 1993, was presented with the Faculty Scholarship Award by the University of Southern California. In 1997, the New England Center for International and Regional Studies (Connecticut) awarded Kvint the title of an Honorary Fellow.[6]. He was recognized with a silver medal by the International Biographical Centre as "Outstanding Scholar of the XX Century".[7].

In 2001, as a U.S. Fulbright Scholar Award recipient, Kvint conducted studies, lectured at University of Vlore and University of Tirana in Albania and provided consultations to the government of Albania [8]. For these activities, he was given an award by the U.S Department of State (2002). In 2002, Fordham University honored Kvint's professorship with the annual GLOBE Award.

In 2002, Kvint, together with Steve Forbes, was awarded the Golden Crest by the Renaissance Society of Bulgaria for his role in the internationalization of Bulgarian and South European emerging markets.

In 2003 the United Nations' International Informatization Academy recognized Kvint with a Gold Medal for his achievements in emerging markets studies. In December 2004 the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences presented Kvint with the Vladimir Vernadsky Silver Medal and Diploma, for his development of the Theory of the Global Emerging Market.

In 2004 he was awarded with the golden crest "Mecenat" and International Award The Golden Aquarius. For his contribution to the economy of Albania, he was awarded by Albanian government with the golden plaque “Mother Teresa.”

In 2005, New York City Council awarded Kvint with a Proclamation “for his outstanding contribution to the City, State and Nation”. In 2005, Dr Kvint was awarded by the Medal for the Promotion of International Friendship by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation,

In 2006, he was awarded with the “Medal for Peace in the Caspian Region” in Kazakhstan. For Kvint’s input in the drafting of law and under law regulations for the protection of foreign investments, entrepreneurship, economic freedom and private property rights, he was awarded the title of Honorary Lawyer of Russia (2003) and the highest award for Advocacy in Russia, The Plevako Gold Medal (2006)

On September 20, 2006, by decree of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, Kvint was awarded with one of the highest awards of Russia - the Order of Friendship.[9]

In 2007, Kvint was declared an Honorary Member of the Albanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Kvint's contribution to the economics of the mining industry was recognized with the Gold Order “Miner of Russia” by the Highest Miner Collegian of the Russian Federation (2006).

The Russian Academy of Natural Sciences awarded Kvint with the Wassily Leontief Memorial Medal for his studies on emerging markets (2007). In 2010 he received International Award - Gold Kondratiev Medal, issuing once in three years "For Achievements in Social Studies" by the International N. D. Kondratieff Foundation and the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences (RAEN). In the same year Vladimir L. Kvint, has been elected as a Fellow of The World Academy of Art and Science. "This election acknowledges Vladimir Kvint`s impact on the development of world economic science as well as his fundamental works in the global emerging market and strategic research".

Honorary doctorates and honorary professorships

Kvint was awarded with Honorary Doctor Degrees from:

• University of Bridgeport (USA),1997
• University of Vlora, 2004
• The Academy of Public Administration of the President of the Russian Federation (Russia), 2004
• Donetsk National Technical University (Ukraine), 2007

He also received the title of Honorary Professor of Economics from

• The Atyrau Institute of Oil and Gas (Kazakhstan), 2006
• Saint-Petersburg University of Management and Economics (Russia), 2006.[10]
• Academy of Management under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan), 2013
• The Honorary Fellow of the Higher Education of the Russian Federation, 2011 (On May 10 of 2011 by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation)

Topics of research and forecasts

35 years of Kvint's research and scholarly activity have been dedicated to the creation of theories on new regional economic development and strategy and emerging market countries. Among Kvint's achievements are:

• Theory of Regionalization of Scientific-Technological Progress
• an evaluation of the role of the scientific-technical strategy in the regional economy
• the development of the methodology of strategic regional programs
• the Theory of the Global Emerging Market
• the Theory of Strategy and its implementation in the Global Emerging Market
• the system of business strategies in emerging market countries
• the development of economic strategic systems of production and distribution of ethanol and other bio-fuels
• Theory of Holistic Strategy

While his strategic analysis and forecasts of events are not infrequently outspoken, controversial, and at times even criticized as outlandish or impossible [Forbes Global, January 24, 2000 p. 24], in hindsight, they have been remarkably accurate and insightful. Indeed, it becomes evident that his forecasts are soundly grounded in detailed analysis of fact.

One of his most accurate forecasts was published in 1989, proclaiming that “by 1992 there will be no country called the Soviet Union”. In fact, the Soviet Union disappeared in December 1991. Kvint’s cover story in the February 1990 issue of Forbes magazine was called “Russia Should Quit the Soviet Union”, and received worldwide attention.

Among his other forecasts are:

• accurate prediction of exchange rate between East and West Deutsche Mark during unification of Germany [Basler Zeitung (Basel, Switzerland), March 20, 1990, p. 1 (in German) and Der Neue Tag (Bavaria Germany) November 28, 1989, p. 1]

• prediction of an early resignation of President Boris Yeltsin and his replacement by a successor in uniform [11]

Published works

Kvint is the author of 21 books and over 450 articles. Many of his articles have been published and translated around the world, including in Forbes magazine, the Harvard Business Review, Institutional Investor, Journal of Accountancy, International Executive, The New York Times, The Times (London), Die Presse (Austria), The New Times (Moscow), and others.

Books

• The Acceleration of Technological Development of Production, Moscow, 1976
• The Introduction and Use of Automation Systems: Regional Economic Aspect, Moscow, 1981
• The Krasnoyarsk Economic Experiment, Moscow, 1982
• The Polar Star Above Us, Moscow, 1984
• Management of Scientific Technological Progress: Regional Aspect, Moscow, Nauka, 1986
• Economic and Scientific- Technical Information (Co-Author), Moscow, 1987
• The Development of the Economy of Daghestan (Co-Author), Makhachkala, Daghestan, 1988
• Capitalizing on the New Russia (The Barefoot Shoemaker), Arcade, New York, 1993
• Creating and Managing International Joint Ventures(Co-author), Quorum Books, Westport, Connecticut, London, 1996
• Emerging Market of Russia: Sourcebook for Investment and Trade,(Author, Editor-In-Chief), John Wiley & Sons, New York,( also published in Singapore, Toronto - Canada, Chichester - UK, Weinheim - Germany, Brisbane - Australia), 1998
• The Global Emerging Market in Transition, Fordham University Press, 1999, 2000. 2nd Extended Edition, New York, 2004, 2006.
  • This book was the subject of a special conference in the UN headquarters in New York City in 1999.
• International M&A, Joint Ventures and Beyond,(Co-Author), John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1998, 2002.
• Investing Under Fire:Winning Strategies, (Co-Author), Bloomberg Press, New York, 2003.
  • With co-authors including General Wesley K. Clark, Ambassador Dennis Ross, and Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs International, Robert D. Hormats. Kvint's contribution considered how to calculate the risk of foreign direct investment in emerging market countries.
• The Global Emerging Market: Strategic Management and Economics, Routledge, New York, London, 2009. [** This book was the subject of UN Social and Economic Council symposium in the UN headquarters in New York City in February 2009
• Business and Strategic Management, St.Petersburg University of Humanities and Social Sciences' Publishing House, St.Petersburg, Russia, 2010.
• Strategic Management and Economics in the Global Emerging Market, Bujet Publishing House, Moscow, 2012.
• Strategy for the Global Market: Theory and Practical Applications, Routledge, New York, London, 2016. 2009. [**

See also

• Emerging Markets
• Strategy