Quote Originally Posted by Antonio1986 View Post
My opinion as an economist:
1. The main indicators that define the prospects and prosperity of a country are: (a) Real GDP growth - Unemployment (b) Government Deficit (c) Public Debt (d) Current Account. Based on these indicators Russia is in a better condition than the majority of EU countries, USA and India. But in a worst condition than China and Arabic countries. Regarding the statement that Russia depends mainly on imports, I would like more clarifications, the current account (i.e. Trade Balance = Exports - Imports) of Russia is pretty fine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...entage_of_GDP: . You have a pretty strong industry and many neighboring countries depend on Russia exports.
2. I don't live in Russia but I suppose that now you have a severe inflation which counterbalances the depreciation of the currency. Now you as Russians have limited purchasing power abroad but foreigners have extended purchasing power in Russia. This will lead to foreign investments (mainly from Germany, India and China given the sanctions from USA)
3. I agree that Russia needs to make reforms and not depend just on its natural resources (especially oil). I would have expect more investment on heavy industry and R & D from Russia.
4. Russia is the second biggest military power. The extension of EU and NATO in Eastern Europe just provoked a "reasonable" reaction from this country. Sadam Husein was hurting the interests of the US Oil Companies in the region leading to the invasion of US in Iraq ... When the Baltic countries entered the NATO I expected a Third World War. Perhaps Russia didn't feel so strong then. But not gospodin Putin has a different opinion
My dear friend,

you was able to notice our GDP numbers but somehow did not take a peek at the GDP per capita list. Russia is lower than
-Greece
-Lithuania
-Estonia
-Slovakia
-Czech republic
and on the same level with Poland.

I wonder if it is what you mean under "better condition"?

Now, those countries had no gift in such amount of natural resources as Russia, but were able to achieve the same level of prosperity as we did. Moreover, many experts recently claimed that these countries (like Poland and Czech rep.) were predicted to overtake Russia in the current year (even when Russia still was stable!). Oil pumping (in Russia as well as in Brazil, Venezuela, South Africa, Indonezia) cannot eternally develop countries economy - we lost to eastern states due to their less corruption and higher management efficient).

Furthermore, take into account that half of our $ 400 b budget used to be incomes from oil \ gas exports. Taxes from businesses - much less than in western countries. 50% of USA`s GDP are incomes from lower companies. In Russia - nothing like this. Simply because companies don`t pay legit taxes. Or simply because companies (in such amount) do not exist. Which do - they are mostly retail shops or services, because it is extremely unreasonable to produce anything in Russia. Money are expensive, energy is expensive, inflation is high, property safety is low.

You have got different opinion like "you have got pretty strong industry" - maybe you could name what useful apart from raw materials do we sell? Russian vehicles? Software? Electronics? Food? Anything. You can even use a list of 200 largest private companies. 200 крупнейших частных компаний trying to find anything notable except retail and oil\gas.

I begin to have doubts about your competence, since I have to explain such obvious things.

Concerning NATO - actually, don`t even want to discuss this. Remember, that Georgia never attacked Russia or any other country. Russia did. No wonder that after that everyone became concerned about their safety. As well as Ukraine. So don`t tell me anything about "NATO provoked" or so. There is no point in discussing this.