Praise for Laar
"Tiny Estonia was reeling from an economic crisis when Mart Laar became Prime Minister in 1999. Russia's financial collapse the summer before had whacked Estonia's stock market and finances. So Laar took decisive action.... If only other European leaders could be as decisive, the Continent might be in much better shape."
—Business Week
"[Mart Laar is] the most successful historian among the Estonian politicians."
—Edwin Feulner, President, Heritage Foundation
"[Mart Laar is] the pioneer of Europe's flat tax revolution."
—Brussels Journal
"Riding on a strong mandate, Laar and his government set Estonia on the road out of economic stagnation, as high growth returned by the first quarter of 2000. Laar has been seen as the 'golden boy' of Estonian politics since his entry a decade ago."
—Central Europe Review
"Mr Laar is hailed as the prophet of a revolution — the flat tax insurrection enveloping much of Europe. As the 'father of the flat tax' he is sought out by economists and politicians from across the globe, anxious for his counsel."
—The Daily Telegraph (London)
"Much of the credit for Estonia being the most successful transition country goes to its brilliant and able free-market former prime minister, Mart Laar."
—The Washington Times
"If Estonia is not a vindication of everything we believe in — from free trade to privatization to sound money to balanced budgets — I am at a loss as to how else one could validate our ideas."
—House Majority Leader Dick Armey (at Cato)