Re: Why did the USSR fall?

["Chris Doss" <nomorebounces@xxxxxxx>]

Ooh, this is a little out of my territory. I know a bit about Russian business because I spent three years with a Russian business newspaper, but am sketchy on the broad picture.

Yes, most domestic equipment (with the big exception of arms) is out-of-date, I do know that light industry was one of the big growth sectors post-1998, but I do not know to what extent it recovered.

Domestic production is currently being protected by the high euro-ruble exchange rate, as most of Russia's imports come from the EU.

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> I'm talking about fixed produced means of production. If the machine tool (etc.) industry in Russia is non-existent or produces obsolescent equipment, then either all means of production need to be imported or industries that use domestically-produced ones will be at a competitive disadvantage. Either way, that means that Russia's economic growth (that's not based directly on domestically-produced raw materials) is dependent on imports.
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> Jim D.
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