Page 1 2
Another challenge for Russia is the issue that
life expectancy is only 58.7 years for men
and 62.4 for women based on the World
Health Organization’s table of statistics for
2007. According to a report published by
the Russian Federation, for every 1,000
Russians there are 15 deaths and just 10.7
births, leading to a population decline of
about 750,000 to 800,000 per year. Steps
are being taken to change this situation. The
government recently banned all cigarette
advertising, and many believe that the next
step will be to ban smoking in all public
places. There are also monetary incentives
for families to have more than one child.
Stabilizing Factor
According to Burns, another issue is continued
government stability, something that outgoing
President Vladimir Putin has been able
to establish.
“Putin is a classic Russian ruler,” said Burns.
“Russians want strong leaders. Democracy,
or at least the American version, is counter to their culture.” Putin
understands power, according to Burns, and that is why the government
is stable, which contributes to a thriving economy. With Dmitry
Medvedev, Putin’s hand-picked successor, elected as president and
Putin assuming the prime minister’s role, governmental stability is
likely to continue.
Russia has moved forward more quickly than most of the world expected
since the leaders of the former USSR voted their Communist government
out of existence in 1991. While China and India are receiving the lion’s
share of the attention, Russia continues to make progress as an economic
power. With an economy reliant on oil, the country has put in place
what are called “Stabilization” and “Prosperity” funds to hedge against
a possible decline in oil prices. The Stabilization fund invests more
conservatively, while the Prosperity fund makes more risky investments.
Both show that Russia is looking ahead.
The same is true in the arena of business education. In Soviet times
the educational system was focused on producing scientists and engineers.
With the move to a market economy, that focus has changed. Now
there is an acute awareness of the need to educate not just business
professionals but business leaders – leaders of the type that will receive
degrees as a result of the new Robinson/Moscow State Executive
Leaders partnership.
 Previous Page | Top
|
