The precedents of regulation and nationalization lead to a widespread expectation of further regulation and nationalization. In this uncertain business climate, investment is severely curtailed. (For instance, in the highly interventionist mixed economy of current-day Russia, owners of many private enterprises, anticipating that their businesses may soon be seized again by the state, are liquidating their assets and converting them to personal use—a trend which of course contributes significantly to economic hardships in that country.) Rising taxes, including the "hidden tax" of inflation, and the expectation of further tax increases also discourage investment. With diminishing investment, the capital structure begins to become depleted, leading to lower worker productivity (cf. pp. 4.8:17-8). Diminished investment in research also hinders the development of new drugs, inventions, and other products. The resulting stagnation makes it nearly impossible to respond to any new needs or crises that may arise. For example, since medical and pharmaceutical research is less well funded than in a free market, cures for new diseases such as AIDS are developed only slowly if at all.