An Economics Skills and Activities Workbook

The final section of topic 1 deals with looking at similarities and differences between countries. This exercise looks at life in Russia.

Activity 1.7 – What is life like living in Russia?

Read the following information and answer the questions below.

In the picture above we have two Russian women. As you can see they try to earn a living by selling clothes and other things that they have made. They stand on the footpath near railway stations or other places where many people pass by and hope that someone will like their products and have the money to buy them. They have to do this all year round, often for seven days a week for up to 12 hours a day. Even if it rains or snows they have to go to work in the streets otherwise they do not have the income to survive. The temperature in winter can be more than 30 degrees below zero. You still have to work otherwise you have no money to live on.

These people are not classified as unemployed rather they are classified as small business owners. Up to 20 percent of Russia’s population try and earn a living by selling anything they can on the streets or in outdoor markets.

What are the best things about living in Russia?

Living in Russia is not all bad. It is a beautiful country and living standards have improved since Putin has been President. Many things are free such as hospitals and all levels of education and other important things, like rent, transport, water and electricity, are very cheap.

What are the most difficult things about living in Russia?

It was difficult for Russian people during the 1990’s, especially when many of them didn't get paid for long periods of time especially those working in factories, schools and hospitals. During the 1990’s doctors and nurses in the hospitals often had to wait for 3 months for their pay. It was even worse for people who worked in the factories. They did not get paid, sometimes, for half of a year or more. The prices in the shops were also very high. Bread costs more than 500 times more than it did in 1990. Many people’s wages and pensions have only risen by 4 or 5 times their 1990 levels. Some people do not live in good conditions. Many people in the country areas live in small houses, made from logs, without any gas or central heating. They have to burn wood in a stove to warm the house and cook food on wooden or small electric stoves. In winter the people almost freeze in their houses, and have to put on a lot of warm clothes to get warmer. The temperature may be 30 degrees below zero. There is really a big difference between rich Moscow, where even a cleaner gets 500 dollars a month, and the country areas where wages are only around 100 dollars a month for school teachers and nurses. For pensioners and the unemployed their income is even lower.

1. What are the two women in the picture doing? Why?

2. Does this generally happen in Australia? What is the difference between the two countries?

3. How do wages and working conditions in Russia compare to those in Australia?

4. How do the government’s provision of basic services like health care and education compare in Russia and Australia?

5. Is the quality of life the same in all parts of Russia? Why do you think this is?

6. How much do school teachers and nurses get paid per month in the rural areas? How much are cleaners paid per month in Moscow? How much would each earn in a month for these jobs in Australia?

7. Do you think that you could live on these wages? How do you think they manage to live?

8. How would you compare the quality of life in Australia compared to that in Russia?

If you want more of these exercises and the answers go to An Economics Skills and Activities Workbook

Go to Topic 2 sample activity