Английский
.pdfRussia is afoot, promising to reduce taxes and barriers to foreign capital to attract an urgently needed “investment boom”.
“We have changed — first of all because the whole world has changed”, Medvedev said in his keynote address Friday to a packed hall of Russian and foreign investors at the St.Petersburg International Economic Forum.
Medvedev announced a lower capital gains tax on long-term direct investment starting in 2011 and a huge reduction in the number of strategic companies with restrictions on foreign investment.
Plans to exempt investors from long-term capital gains taxes were first presented by the Finance Ministry in March in hopes of stimulating private equity and venture capital investment. But reports at the time said this would only apply to shares of companies not traded on exchanges.
Strategic industries like energy, aerospace, defense and media have been limited for foreign investment since a 2008 law that requires foreign companies wishing to invest to seek special permission from a commission chaired by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Medvedev said that he had signed a law on Friday morning that reduced the number of strategic enterprises from 208 to 41.
The new law will also reduce the number of so-called federal unitary enterprises from 230 to 159, he said. These enterprises have been criticized as stifling competition and inviting wasteful government spending.
Medvedev said that if conditions remained favorable, corporate taxes would be further reduced in the coming years. He said he had ordered the government to set up a new investment fund focusing on modernization where every ruble in state cash would be supplemented by 3 rubles from the private sector.
The president acknowledged that economic reforms could not be achieved by orders from above. Instead, he said, the government should focus on creating favorable overall conditions. “The state should not tear apples from the tree of economics. What it should do is help to grow our apple orchard, to develop our economic environment”, he said.
Forum participants reacted positively to the speech.
Former World Bank president James Wolfensohn said that while Medvedev was openly addressing the right problems, the country now needed new approaches to solve its overly heavy dependence on natural resources. The government, he added, should also pay more
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attention to changing the education system. “If you don’t do that, then your ability to confront the technological challenges becomes much less”, he said. Medvedev announced a state-sponsored exchange program to send more Russian students to the world’s leading research institutions.
Tasks
1. Answer the questions:
1)Why should taxes be reduced in Russia?
2)Whom were plans to exempt investors from long-term capital gains taxes presented by?
3)Will it apply to all companies?
4)What industries have been limited for foreign investment? Why?
5)What kind of enterprises are going to be reduced in number?
6)What did the President compare economics to?
7)How did the Forum participants react to Medvedev's speech?
8)What does our economy depend on according to James Wolfensohn?
9)What other fields of our life should be reformed?
2. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:
1)Medvedev announced a lower capital gains tax … long-term direct investment starting … 2011 and a huge reduction … the number … strategic companies … restrictions … foreign investment.
2)Plans to exempt investors … long-term capital gains taxes were first presented … the Finance Ministry … March … hopes … stimulating private equity.
3)Reports … the time said this would only apply … shares … companies not traded … exchanges.
4)A law that reduced the number … strategic enterprises … 208 … 41 had been signed … Friday morning … the President.
5)President Medvedev ordered the government to set ….a new investment fund focusing … modernization where every ruble … state cash would be supplemented … 3 rubles … the private sector.
6)Forum participants reacted positively … the speech.
3. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b).
a)afoot; to reduce; to attract; boom; keynote address; direct; restrictions; exempt; venture; apply; to require; permission; to chair; to stifle; to focus on; supplement; overall; dependence
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b)to relate; underway; reliance; increase; to risk; general; to lessen; to preside; leave; to fascinate; limitations; to concentrate on; main speech; to demand; to add; immediate; to repress free
4.Match the word combinations with their English equivalents in the text:
Уменьшить налоги; убрать барьеры; способствовать объективному отношению к частному капиталу; стимулировать капиталовложения; налог на увеличение рыночной стоимости капитала; долгосрочные прямые инвестиции; требовать от иностранных кампаний; получить специальное разрешение; возглавляемая премьер-министром; налог на корпорации; душить конкуренцию; сосредоточить усилия на; государственная казна; нуждаться в новых подходах; программа обмена; спонсируемый государством.
5.Translate from Russian into English:
1)Министерство Финансов впервые представило свой план освободить инвесторов от налогов с увеличения рыночной стоимости капитала в марте этого года.
2)Премьер Министр России Владимир Путин возглавил комиссию, которая дает разрешение иностранным компаниям вкладывать средства в российские предприятия.
3)Так называемые федеральные унитарные предприятия душат конкуренцию и требуют дополнительных расходов правительства.
4)По мнению бывшего главы Всемирного Банка если российское правительство намерено справиться с предстоящими изменениями в технологиях производства, оно должно изменить систему образования в стране.
Контрольная работа № 2
Text
The living trends in the UK economy
As agriculture and forestry have declined in importance to the UK’s overall economy, so rural society has changed dramatically.
A hundred years ago most villages were peopled by families which had lived there for generations. The majority would have worked on the land, their children would have gone to the village school and
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there would have been a clear social structure, headed by the biggest local landowner, the vicar and perhaps the doctor.
Things are very di erent today. Now farming and forestry combined account for at most 11% of the local economy in even the most rural of areas. Nationally it accounts for less than 3% of GDP, and in the areas surrounding big cities its direct impact is negligible. Despite this, land prices remain high, particularly in areas within commuting distance of big employment centres. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the south-east or on the outskirts of major cities like Manchester, Birmingham and Edinburgh.
The reason is that improvements in transport mean it is possible to enjoy the benefits of living in the countryside, while cashing in on higher urban salaries. As incomes continue to rise, many couples with children are particularly likely to make the move, drawn by the attraction of a relatively small pollution — and tra c-free environment, not to mention small rural schools.
Older couples taking early retirement also feature in the general exodus. Between them, these groups have put huge development pressures on many rural areas. The trend is exacerbated by a falling birth-rate and the growing number of people choosing to live alone.
This means that up to 4.4 million new homes will be needed within the next 20 years while the population remains static or even falls.
Although everyone agrees that ideally new homes should be built within cities or on former industrial land, for various reasons this is frequently impractical.
One problem is a shortage of suitable sites in the areas of highest demand and another is the high cost of reclaiming land which is frequently contaminated by past industrial activity. The biggest problem, however, is simply the huge demand for homes in the countryside within easy reach of major towns, particularly in the south-east corner of England. This inevitably means the birth of new villages and towns on what were once green fields.
1. Answer the questions:
1)What fields of the UK economy have declined in importance lately?
2)How has it a ected the structure of the rural society?
3)Where are the land prices highest in Great Britain?
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4)What parts of the UK population are most attracted by living in the countryside?
5)What happens to the birth-rate in the UK?
6)How many new homes will be needed in the nearest future?
7)Why is the construction of new homes on former industrial land impractical?
8)Why is it di cult to construct new homes within cities?
2. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary.
1)Agriculture and forestry have declined … importance … the UK’s economy.
2)A hundred years ago most villages were peopled … families which had lived … there … generations.
3)Farming and forestry combined account … most 11% … the local economy … even the most rural … areas.
4)… this, land prices remain high, particularly … areas … commuting distance … big employment centres.
5)Nowhere is this more apparent than … the south-east or … the outskirts … major cities.
6)Improvements … transport mean it is possible to enjoy … the benefits … living … the countryside, … cashing … higher urban salaries.
7)These groups have put … huge development pressures … many rural areas.
8)… 4.4 million new homes will be needed … the next 20 years.
9)Ideally new homes should be built … cities or … former industrial land but … various reasons this is frequently impractical.
10)The biggest problem is the huge demand … homes … the countryside … easy reach … major towns.
3. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b).
a)to decline; dramatically; to people; to account for; impact; negligible; apparent; benefits; to cash in; to feature in; exodus; to exacerbate; static; shortage; contaminate; reclaim; once
b)formerly; decrease; be a part of; departure; be estimated as; lack; influence; radically; stable; aggravate; to populate; pollute; advantages; evident; restore; insignificant; take advantage of
4.Match the word combinations with their English equivalents in the text:
Играть менее важную роль; в течение многих поколений; сельское хозяйство и лесная промышленность вместе; возглавляемая; составлять 5%; прямое воздействие; в пределах езды; центры
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занятости; пользоваться преимуществами; растущие доходы; не говоря уж; менее загрязненные; уходить на пенсию рано; фигурировать в общей миграции; оказывать влияние на развитие; тенденция обостряется; уровень рождаемости; нехватка подходящих мест для строительства; районы, пользующиеся наибольшим спросом; высокая стоимость; загрязненные промышленными отходами; поблизости.
5. Translate from Russian into English:
1)Сто лет назад большая часть населения Великобритании занималась сельским хозяйством, дети ходили в сельские школы и структура общества была четкой и простой: во главе общины стояли крупный землевладелец, местный викарий и иногда доктор.
2)Сейчас цены на землю остаются высокими, особенно в тех областях, которые находятся в пределе нескольких часов езды от больших населенных центров.
3)Причина подобного положения вещей — в том, что современные средства транспорта дают возможность людям наслаждаться благами жизни на природе и в то же время получать более высокую зарплату .
4)По мере того, как доходы людей растут, многие семьи с детьми все чаще переезжают в сельскую местность, где плотность населения ниже, а экология более здоровая, не говоря уж о таких преимуществах как небольшие сельские школы.
5)Люди пожилого возраста также участвуют во всеобщей миграции населения.
Var. II
Text.
A growing class of workaholic Russian freelancers
No one keeps track of Russia’s exact number of freelancers — the consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees and the self-employed who set their own hours and often work from home. But experts agreed that their number has soared amid the crisis-related layo s.
Full-time freelancers account for 500,000 to 600,000 people in Russia’s 70 million-member work force, triple the figure before
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the recession hit in late 2008, said Denis Strebkov, a sociologist from the Higher School of Economics.
Russia’s largest online portal for freelance workers, Free.lance. ru, alone boasts more than 600, 000 members, or twice as many as 18 months ago. Twenty-two percent of Russian freelancers work solely as freelancers, while 44 percent continue to hold a full-time job. Other categories of Russian freelancers include students, entrepreneurs and housewives. Fifty-eight percent of all Russian freelancers are young — between 18 and 26 — while only 6 percent are 41 and older. More than half of all freelancers have university degrees.
The most popular industries among freelancers are the IT sector, design and multimedia, followed by work with texts, business consulting and engineering.
For most of them, interest in the work takes precedence over the salary. This puts them in sharp contrast with traditional full-time workers, 96 percent of whom identify their salaries as their top criterion in choosing a workplace. This set of values unites Russians with freelancers from other countries. They show much more initiative at work, tend to be workaholics and care about job stability much less than the average Russian. They set their own schedule and choose the kind of work they would like to do.
But this freedom of work often comes at a cost. The top complaint for freelancers — both Russian and foreign — is the unpredictability of their incomes. Even if a project pays well, salary delays are frequent, and half of all freelancers fear that they will be cheated by their work associates. Freelancers get no work benefits or future pension accumulations, however small. They often run into obstacles when trying to get a loan at a bank, applying for a visa to go abroad or doing anything that requires documented sources of income.
Unlike in the US, where freelancers often act as independent contractors and can easily access all information about the taxes they have to pay, Russian freelancers lag behind on legalizing their work.
Tasks:
1. Answer the questions:
1)Why has the number of freelancers soared recently?
2)How many people have become freelancers in Russia?
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3)Do they work part-time or full-time?
4)How old are most freelancers?
5)Are they unqualified people only?
6)What industries are most popular among freelancers?
7)What kind of people are freelancers?
8)What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a freelancer?
2. Insert the prepositions where it is necessary:
1)The number … freelancers has soared … the crisis-related layo s.
2)Freelancers account … 500,000 … 600,000 people … Russia’s 70 mil- lion-member work force, triple the figure … the recession hit … late 2008.
3)Twenty-two percent … Russian freelancers work solely … freelancers.
4)Fifty-eight percent … all Russian freelancers are young — … 18 and 26.
5)For most … freelancers, interest … the work takes precedence … the salary.
6)Freelancers are … sharp contrast … traditional full-time workers, 96 percent … whom identify their salaries … their top criterion … choosing a workplace.
7)Freelancers show initiative …work, tend to be workaholics and do not care much … job.
8)However, freelancers often run … obstacles when trying to get a loan … a bank, applying … a visa to go abroad or doing anything that requires documented sources … income.
9)In the US freelancers often act … independent contractors and can easily access all information … the taxes they have to pay.
3. Match the words in column a) with their synonyms in column b):
a)contractor; contingent; to soar; recession; to boast; solely; to take precedence; to identify; average; unpredictability; income; to cheat; associate; accumulation; benefits; obstacles; to access; to lag behind
b)provider; barriers; to drag behind; to be superior over; to equate; usual; accidental; to rise; to deceive; partner; to be proud of; decline; impossible to predict; earnings; gains; exclusively; fund; to receive
4.Match the word combinations with their English equivalents in the text:
Следить за; независимый подрядчик; человек на временной работе; увольнения, связанные с кризисом; насчитывать; рабочая сила; наступил упадок; работать исключительно на договорной основе; предприниматели; иметь постоянную работу; доминировать над; склонны быть; рабочий график; демонстрировать
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инициативу; иметь оборотную сторону; задержки выплат; подвергаться обману со стороны партнеров; не иметь никаких льгот; сталкиваться с препятствиями.
5. Translate from Russian into English:
1)Число независимых подрядчиков — консультантов людей работающих неполный рабочий день, на временных условиях, свободных предпринимателей за последнее время значительно выросло.
2)Более половины людей, работающих исключительно на договорной основе, имеют высшее образование.
3)Для большинства из них удовлетворение, получаемое ими от работы — важнее заработка, что резко отличает их от тех, кто работает на постоянной основе.
4)Однако, свободный график и независимость имеют свою оборотную сторону.
5)Даже если дело оказывается выгодным, заработки свободных предпринимателей — как в России, так и в других странах — нерегулярны, и задержки случаются довольно часто. К тому же, половина свободных предпринимателей боится, что их обманут партнеры.
6)Я думаю, что пенсионные отчисления — пусть и небольшие, лучше, чем когда этих отчислений нет вообще.
Контрольная работа № 3
Var. I
Text
Nobel prize in economics goes to social scientists
In a departure from prevailing economic theory, the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science was awarded Monday to two social scientists for their work in demonstrating that business people, including competitors, often develop implicit relationships that supplement and resolve problems that arise from free-market competition.
Elinor Ostrom of Indiana University was cited “for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons”, and Oliver E. Williamson of the University of California, Berkeley, “for his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm.”
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Ms. Ostrom becomes the first woman to win the prize for economics. Her background is in political science, not economics. “It is part of the merging of the social sciences”, Robert Schiller, an economist at Yale, said of the awards Monday. “Economics has been too isolated, and these awards are a sign of the greater enlightenment going around today. We were too stuck on e cient markets, and it was derailing our thinking.”
The prize committee, in making the awards, seemed to be influenced by the credit crisis and the severe recession that in the minds of many mainstream economists have highlighted the shortcomings of an unregulated market-place, in which “economic actors”, left to their own devices, will act in their own self-interest. Classical free-market theory holds that in doing so they enhance everyone’s well-being.
The committee, in effect, said that theory was too simplistic and ignored the unstated relationships and behaviors that develop among companies and within companies that compete. “Basically there is a common understanding that develops even among competitors when they are dealing with each other”, Mr. Schiller said, adding that “when people make business contact, even competitors, they can’t anticipate everything, so an element of trust comes in.”
In its announcement, the committee said that Ms Ostrom “has challenged the conventional wisdom that common property is poorly managed and should be better regulated by central authorities or privatized. Based on numerous studies of user-managed fish stocks, pastures, woods, lakes and groundwater basins, Ms. Ostrom concludes that the outcomes are, more often than not, better than predicted by standard theories.”
Mr. Williamson’s research, the committee said, found that “when market competition is limited, firms are better suited for conflict resolution than markets.”
The economics prize was created in 1969 by the Swedish central bank in honor of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, who established the awards for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, peace and literature.
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