Thursday, January 18, 2007

Sagacious Economist

It is widely believed that the Economist is a serious and respectable magazine but somehow its analysis of Russia is simply miserable. Only a couple of years ago Economist stopped making doomsday forecasts for Russian economy. It embarrassed itself too many times.

Kirill Pankratov found this wonderful masterpiece in Economist’s “The World in 1999” where its renowned analysts made economic forecasts almost for every country on this planet.

1999 will be the year of Russia's disintegration… Trade between Russia's regions will plunge at least until they hit on a stable, trusted currency in which to do business. That is hardly likely to be the rouble, and the planned coupons and currencies which some regions have been planning look equally unattractive substitutes. How much would a Urals franc be worth in Rostov-on-Don, or a Saratov mark in Perm? ...foreign invasion, albeit of a peaceful and benevolent kind, is exactly what Russia's regions should want… The probable decline in Russia's wealth in 1999 will be around 10%… expect yet another bleak and miserable year.

21 comments:

La Russophobe said...

That's so interesting! The whole world thinks the Economist is clever, and only Kirill and Konstantin know the truth. What a pity that these two deeply misunderstood and underappreciated geniuses will perish in obscurity while the Economist will bask in the light of fame and recognition! Oh! The injustice of it all!

Don't you feel at ALL compelled to prove exactly what facts you feel the Economist got wrong and to source your own facts? What happened to the Russian economy in 1999? Did it do well according to you? Did trade between the regions stay constant or rise, or did it plunge as the Economist stated? For sure, the disintegration prediction was right on track, as we've seen President Putin abolish elected governorships in order to halt the process, and we've seen Ukraine and Georgia bolt from the neo-Soviet fold.

You don't even link to a post from Kirill that actually discusses this issue, just to his blog generally, much less do you link to the actual Economist article. You are without ethics or the slightest shred of character or intelligence. You're a propagandizing maniac, plain and simple, and your statements are ludicrous on their face.

Konstantin, you are far more vacuous and pathetic than the Economist could ever dream of being. It's like a piece of charcoal calling a polar bear black.

This blog is an outrage and gives us all a bad name. You are a loathsome, lying, contemptible reptile -- and with "friends" like you poor Russia is surely doomed.

Unknown said...

Actually, I do think Konstantin and Kirill make an interesting observation regarding the Economist as a proxy for Western media's confusion concerning Russia.

La Russophobe, I did not see their blog post as a comparison of their analysis versus The Economist's analysis, hence the ad hominum "attacks" are a bit silly don't you think?

I have a challenge for La Russophone (whose analysis on Russia puts Fox News to shame in its excellence and crativity). The challenge is for you to list 1 thing you like about Russia for 7 days straight.

I know you might have to dig deep. You might even have to blur the truth a bit (is that a problem?).

BTW- Just one last question for La Russophobe. How do you say in Russian, "You doth protest too much?"

Konstantin, Kirill, and Kim (how do you say alliteration in Russian for bonus points) keep up the great work.

Schez leva, Timothy Post

PS: No need to attack me, I just another dumb American hick who's addicted to Russia. I can't help it. Please take pity on my feeble little mind.

La Russophobe said...

TIMOTHY:

You idiot, Konstantin has specifically said that the Economist got facts wrong, yet he does not provide ANY data to show that ANY specific fact was wrong. He doesn't even have the courtesy to link to the text he is referring to so that the Economist's full statement can speak for itself. If you approve of that unfairness, inaccuracy and mind-boggling hypocrisy, you're as big an unprofessional dolt as he is and I'm not suprised you are buddies. More's the pity.

As for your challenge, you are clearly insane. Why in the world would I wish to accept it? What's in it for me? Or are you such a blind egomaniac that you think I should simply want to make YOU happy? Why don't YOU post seven things you hate about the Putin regime for seven days straight and then I'll respond with seven compliments for Russia, after you tell me what good thing will happen to me (other than your psychotic approva) after I do.

And while you are posting all those wonderful things about Russia, be sure to block the notion of Russia losing 1 million people from its population every year, being ruled over by a democratically elected KGB spy, supplying weapons to Iran and Venezuela, money to Hamas and Hezbollah, and languishing in the poverty of $300 per month average salaries.

Unknown said...

1. Perhaps I'm an idiot but let's hope I ain't too stupid.
2. La Russophobe, ur correct. Konstantin, you fucked-up. You must cite instances where the Economist got it facts wrong. Shame on you.
3. I may be a dolt but I am not buddies with Konstantin. I've never even thrown back a few shots of vodka and checked out the dyvuskis with him. Perhpas you would join us at Club 911 so we can all be dolts together? (FYI- I never claimed to be professional. I'm just an idiot blogger.
4. You are a pussy if you don't accept my challenge. If I wanted you to make me happy I'd ask for something a bit more dirty. But if you are scared then you are less of a woman than I had thought. Be a woman. Here's some great things about Russia- Bulachka Smackum, Sheeshlik w. Sochi sauce, Tverskaya Ulitsa ( or any main drag in some provincial city, say Krasnaya Ulitsa) on the first really hot day in July when they devs all wear their super minis, eXile.ru, La Russophobe, Gelenzkik in August, being able to flag any car and get them to pretend to be a taxi, peporossa cigarettes, man purses, and that's what I thought of in 3 minutes.
5. I hate NOTHING about Putin. In fact I am a polytheist and believe in three Gods- Tom Brady, Steve Jobs, and Vladimir Putin (not necessarily in that order).
6. Russia may have a declining population but I can only speak for myself. I've done my part. My Russian wife and I have a wonderful baby daughter. I'll speak to my buddies in Russia and tell them to get going. Poshli boys!
7. Which Russians are you hanging with? Obviously some pansies in the NGO's. My boys are doing just fine thanks. Perhaps it's because you are a horse faced Western woman who no drunk Russian would buy a drink. Are you ugly?

Unknown said...

La Russophobe:

Ooops, I almost forget to ask: What's wrong with Venezuela?

You must hate every country wher the woman are beautiful. Are you ugly?

BTW- WTF happened to Sharapova today, she won in straight sets. Oh ya, she was playing another Russian. Putin must have ordered Rodionova to tank the match.

Question for you: Was Ilie Nastase a KGB spy? Do you like Roger Federer? I forgot to add him to my list of Gods. Is it sexist of me to only have male Gods?

Fedia Kriukov said...

Hi LR! Weren't you recently having a hissy fit in my blog (although you seem to have such fits in every single blog where I've seen your posts), demanding that I provide specific links to where The Economist erred in its predictions about the Russian economy? See how common their errors actually are? You don't have to look for them, they find you on their own. And I was wondering why you grew strangely quiet in that discussion. I guess stumbling on your own into the evidence you were demanding from me was a little embarrassing even for you.

Well, good luck with your further ranting and ad hominem arguments!

Slavito said...

Konstantin - I completely agree with you. I used to be an avid reader of the Economist but the unbridled negativity and frankly, what seems to be almost paid-for propaganda filling its articles on Russia has started to put me off.

I haven't read this particular "masterpiece", but let's just say their converage of Russia has often been far from objective.

Take the case of the recent issue with Mr. Putin on the cover, outfitted as an Italian gangster holding a gasoline pipe like it were an automatic weapon. What do you call that if not propaganda? (Perhaps even inspired by Deineka & Co.!) Am I supposed to take this magazine seriously?

I often wondered if other people see their hypocrisy about everything Russian and I am glad at least SOME do....

Anonymous said...

So, is this really La Russophobe's ass? : http://www.exile.ru/2006-January-26/who_is_la_russophobe.html

Kyle and Svet Keeton said...

I am also just another dumb American addicted to Russia,

Good Blog and Article,

I like Russia and I am an American with a Russian Wife living in Moscow.

Kyle

Anonymous said...

of course it is almost impossible to fire a lazy french worker. Example : Of the 5 400 000 state employees (on a 63 million population) less than 30 are fired every year (change 1 out of 180 000 !). And for the other emplyees who work in the private field, they can be fired for just everything at any time. You're right ... but only partially

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Anonymous said...

Kirill and Konstantin know the truth, yes. I wondered too how you grew strangely quiet in that discussion. Tasting champagne and predicting the future? only partially.

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Iraqi Dinar said...

It is very difficult to judge the biasedness of the reviwer about any topic because people use so much exaggerations.

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