Iran's Model Economy

While the US wages war in Iraq to convert it to a model of Middle East prosperity, Iran, a member of Bush's "Axis of Evil," has been slowly converting itself to a market economy -- led mostly by moderates and conservatives within the country. More and more, the Iran story is shaping up to look like China's. No demise like the Soviet Union and no revolution needed. Just slow plodding conversion of state control to private control. The gains aren't only going to the country -- for a market economy to thrive, all resources must be exploited to their fullest -- and so women are gaining ground in participating in businesses -- owning a stake in the reforms. As they gain more influence in the country's economy, expect the demand for social change to follow.