Glencoe World GeographyChapter 16:
Russia TodayChapter Overviews
Russia's shift toward a market economy in the post-Soviet era has presented a
series of challenges. The country has worked to strengthen its role in world trade,
increase agricultural production, and provide more jobs for its workers. Modern-day
Russia has inherited the results of shortsighted economic development during the
Soviet era, which resulted in large-scale damage to the environment. It is still
struggling to find a way to balance its needs for economic growth with the preservation
of its environment.
Living in Russia Under the Soviet command economy, the government owned
factories, farms, mines, and transportation systems; controlled the rate of
production; and insured that most people were employed. The emphasis on heavy
industry, however, meant that everyday consumer goods were often unavailable.
Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev introduced reforms in the 1980s that guided
Russia towards a free market economy, but the country continues to struggle.
In the 1990s, Russia attempted to modernize farm production and open up its
industries to foreign investors. Railroads and waterways continue to provide
the most efficient means to transport goods across the vast country. People
also continue to rely on public transportation, although car ownership is increasing.
The absence of state controls in communications has led to a greater diversity
and availability of mass media. In this new era of global interdependence, Russia
has worked to strengthen its ties with regional and world trade networks. People and Their Environment The Soviet Union's disregard for the environment
produced grave consequences for Russians today. Industrial sewage and fertilizer
runoff from farms polluted lakes and rivers. Pesticides and radioactive materials
contaminated the soil. Auto and industrial emissions contributed to high rates
of air pollution. Moreover, in 1986 a fire in a nuclear reactor in Chernobyl,
Ukraine, released tons of radioactive particles into the atmosphere. Because
of prevailing winds, this radiation eventually even reached neighboring countries.
In recent years, Russia had worked to correct some of these problems by managing
its forests more effectively, reducing water pollution levels, and improving
safety standards in its nuclear power plants.
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