But in weeks of intense debate, market-oriented economists were forced to compromise with more traditional Government planners, who insisted that a quick transition to markets would be too wrenching and unpopular.

Even Mr. Shmeylov, generally considered to be among the more market-oriented Soviet economists, has urged that price decontrol be postponed for a few years until production is expanded.

Things began looking up shortly after Mr. Cavaco Silva, a market-oriented economist, became Prime Minister two years ago.

The leading alternative was drafted by Mr. Boiko and his colleagues on the committee, a panel that includes several prominent, market-oriented economists and three experienced entrepreneurs.

There is certainly a receptive audience for tuition vouchers, with free market-oriented economists in the forefront.

On economic issues, Mr. Ivanov was scornful of the views of the market-oriented economists who advise Mr. Gorbachev.

"I'm a market-oriented economist," he said.

Sergei Krasavchenko, a market-oriented economist, was made chairman of a committee on economic reform.

However, most of its initial members came from the Akcja Gospodarcza society (est. 1988), a loose group of free market-oriented economists supporting the opposition to communist government of Poland.

Starting in the early 1980s, Chubais became a leader of an informal circle of market-oriented economists in Leningrad.