(The Moscow Times) A distinct note of hopelessness crept into official government statements regarding the economy in February. The problems the country is facing are obvious, but what are lacking are new proposals for solving them and new people ready to take responsibility for what is happening in the economy.
That hopelessness has bred passivity: with economic problems so daunting and so complex, what is the point of even trying? How is it possible to quickly correct the deeply entrenched economic imbalances in a range of sectors or root out the pervasive corruption?
Of course, there are no quick fixes to such problems, but that does not mean the authorities should not take some steps right now. Many measures could be implemented quickly. First, leaders could immediately lift the ban on imported foods from Europe and the United States. Second, they could announce a substantial reduction in military spending. Third, they could fire the most flagrantly corrupt officials from the government and administration. […]
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