10. Mikhail and Maxim are discussing the question how a rise can be seen in the Russian economy. Use the notes below to write the conversation. Then practise reading your conversations to each other.

Speak on the specific achievements in the economy:

Mikhail: Rise in manufacturing / Development of market for goods, absence of shortages / Improvement of the economic situation in general / Increase of volume of Russian goods on the market

Maxim: Lowering of unemployment / Repayment of foreign debts / Stabilization of the ruble rate

Speak on rising of living standards of the population:

Mikhail: Increase in salaries, pensions, benefits / Rising living standards in general

Maxim: Payments on time / Building, improvements in towns and villages

Speak on effective domestic policy:

Mikhail: The economic rise began in Putin’s time / in the good leadership

Maxim: they make new laws to stop the crisis

Mikhail: private businessmen have the possibility to work

Maxim: Great cooperation with other countries

11. Lena and Oleg are discussing the question why Russia is still experiencing economic decline. Use the notes below to write the conversation. Then practise reading your conversations to each other.

Speak on low living standards:

Oleg: Generally low living standards, poverty / High prices, price growth

Lena: Low wages and pensions / Payment arrears / High prices of utilities and transport, raise of prices

Speak on the economic situation getting worse:

Oleg: Production decline / Devaluation of the ruble / High foreign debt

Lena: High unemployment level / Domestic goods are squeezed out by import / Crisis in agriculture

No stability and positive changes in the economy:

Oleg: Unstable economy / there is no economic rise yet /there are no positive changes / there is no success

Lena: Nothing has changed / there are no improvements / too few actual results / we have nothing to boast about yet

Speak on authorities not working effectively:

Oleg: Incompetent administration of the country / there are no good leaders in the government / the authorities are not doing their job, and this is the reason why we still have a decline

Lena: There are no people who could improve the economic situation / bad public administration / a lot depends on the government, laws should be changed

Speak on widespread corruption:

Oleg: Corruption is eating the economy / the authorities are very impudent and corrupt / they are stealing material resources / everything is because of the mafia and bad management

Lena: The government should not steal so much, they should care for the people, not for their pockets / everyone is working for themselves, not for the good of the state / crime is rampant, everything is stolen, and nothing is being done about it

Oleg: Russia has always been behind other countries, it’s hard to bring her to her feet now / there is no investment in the economy, no sales / bad liberal policy

Lena: Middle-sized and small businesses are having a hard time / we will never overcome it.