"Junk rating" or speculative rating means that investors are less likely to invest money in that particular country economy and it's far from "collapse"
First of all, if you didn't know Russia having problem at the moment to bring Western investments because of the sanctions, it's been like that for several month, it's a problem but not a catastrophe.
Second if you read your article then you might notice that it says: "Russia may lose its investment-grade credit rating for the first time in a decade after Standard & Poor’s". So it may or may not but you already predicting a collapse which means you are trying to sell your personal desires as a fact, does not look very convincing though.
BTW if S&P does lower the rating then Russia will go a step lower and will stand with countries like: Turkey, Bulgaria, Georgia, Croatia, Serbia, Costa Rica, Portugal etc. are they collapsing too or it is not what you meant again?
And third, here is an argument against yours - Rogers: Russia next year will be a great investment - News 24
When it comes to population trends in the early days of the USSR:
1) There was a civil war going on. It's a common trend in wars, that people have less children.
2) There were public information campaigns on a large scale in the USSR. Communist ideology has an aspect of liberating women. Part of that is educating women in controlling how many children they have. Not being pregnant all the time would have been incredibly liberating for women in those days. There are many ways to reduce the chance of getting pregnant without using modern contraceptives. I think it's very likely that women got educated on that, and were able to reduce the number of children they had.
3) The USSR was the first country in the world to officially legalise abortion - this happened in 1920. It's quite likely that the option to have an abortion reduced births significantly. A lot of single women or very poor women probably chose this option rather than have a child they weren't in a position to look after.
4) The influence of religion reduced, so ideas about "go forth and multiply" and "let God open and close the womb"
probably became less influential.
Then in the 1930s the number of births increased per the stats that diogen posted. That ties in perfectly with something I studied at university, whereby the USSR was starting up creches and various state-run facilities to provide childcare for working women. This was somewhat unique and the way that the USSR did this was much studied in other countries. I read a book about it at university, by a woman who toured the USSR just to look at how childcare was organised. A lot of the aspects of the Soviet childcare system was copied in Sweden, precisely to solve the childcare problem which meant that women in the 1930s had less children. Basically, when free good quality childcare was available, women were probably more willing to start having more children.
Also, by the 1930s, a lot of people probably in better housing than in the 1920s, the Civil War was in the past and things were more stable.
You can stick your head in the sand.... It's your right.
It's true, though, it is not 'evidence' on its own. But, there's many indicators of a collapse, the ruble tumble and I guess you either A) don't think I am correct about Russia not being self-sustaining or B) you think it's not a concern. It doesn't really matter. You are entrenched in your beliefs and I could probably post any number of indicators and in robotic form, you will deny anything negative or spin it. Not until Putin throws up his arms and says, 'We're *****ed', will you believe anything else.
I think many countries are in trouble and that list doesn't change that. Maybe you don't notice but economies throughout the world are reliant on each other and these ties or partners are stronger with some than others. This is one of the major problems in the global economy the MSM doesn't talk about. Everyone thinks it's great when you have 'free' trade. But, Russia has not had a policy to sustain itself since it relied on the oil/gas sector and Russia's oligarchs took the most profitable money-making ventures. Putin et al. were satisfied with that and let ordinary Russians deal on their own.
It's obvious, Russia is heading for a collapse and so are a number of other countries. For now, Russia will keep getting worse. Jim Rogers would be considered an oliarch in your country. I guess you didn't know he's a buddy of George Soros? These affluent gentlemen say, it's a good 'investment' because they buy assets after they've depreciated....some sell them later. Or they wait for bad investments to go bad and then buy them up. That doesn't mean Russia is going to climb out of economic problems. I don't know why someone who bashes the West periodically would believe such entrepreneurs in the States. That's ironic as heck.
Btw, maybe JR, Soros and others think a Russian collapse is inevitable? Perhaps, they think a pro-Western regime can be attained so they are advocating their buddies to buy up assets in Russia in anticpation? I suppose you never think of their motives? It's not surprising.
It's obvious that we are getting invaded by aliens. Or not.
I know who Jim Rogers is. It is funny though that you try to find some negatives about him and since you are not able to find any dirt in your usual sources you switch to Russian once, it's quite interesting to observe you desperate tries to blackpaint everything and anything that might be good in relation to Russia. Propaganda much?
LOL. The only propaganda is coming from you. 'you are not able to find any dirt in your usual sources.....' Blah, blah, blah.... another Russian posted sources. That wasn't good enough. I posted sources. That's not good enough. Everything you disagree with is propaganda.
How can the same exact person first advise to use VPN, and keep one's identity a secret while online (which are the right things to do), and then make posts like this?...even though he officially refuses to share even which country he is in.
So what gives?
Ok, fine, I understand. But there isn't much he can say back. I am here because I like the Russian speaking countries while he seems to be here because he doesn't like them.
I am not asking you or him to tell me your name and address, or anything at all that would identify you. Just say what country you are from. I wouldn't really have cared if you were Americans, but I know you're not and it's really disturbing to see fellow Europeans with this level of negative fixation on Russia.
More info about the decay and deterioration of Russia...
http://www.forbes.com/sites/markadom...for-the-worse/
Tsk, tsk, Basil. I guess you neo-Soviet Russians 'переход на личности' when you have grasped your last straw and have nothing to respond with. But, insults won't help and it just makes you look bad.
I am not criticizing Russia to be malicious but to be constructive. If you want to be a traitor and support your status quo Putin and support the influx of muslims and foreigners not to mention the drastic economic decline of your country, that's your business, but it's totally irrational regardless of how much brainwashing one has.
Russia's economic misery deepens - Mar. 13, 2015
Western Sanctions And Rising Debts Are Already Strangling The Russian Economy - Forbes
Thursday's papers: Looming economic collapse in Russia, defence plan reaction, Auer cries foul and secret kidney ailments | Yle Uutiset | yle.fi
Russian Economy May Collapse Through War:Schmieding - Bloomberg Business
Russia's economic crisis 'will end Putin regime'.
I know, all are Western sources. So what? I don't need Western sources to reach a conclusion of the inevitable. Russia, more or less, has an economy that is not sustainable so these reports are nothing more than expected and anticipated. The West is only capitalizing on the inevitable here. But, don't worry, Russia won't be alone in its collapse - although, I believe it will collapse before the United States - harder and faster.
Imho, the majority of Russians should be incensed at their government and for being exploited, manipulated, indoctrinated and lied to - but, the approval ratings are still high - so whether 80%, 70% or similar, it's still sad.
Of course, I didn't balance the critique with Russian media sources - I suppose I can come up with some that are not tarnished by Kremlin influence. There's no point to use the Kremlin mouthpieces RT or ITAR-TASS. What for? We already know they will spin everything in a positive way and sugarcoat all of the problems and predictions of a collapse. That doesn't help anybody.
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