Featured topics in this issue: U.S.  Automakers; Russia’s Financial Crisis

Read these articles in Russian here.

Bankrupt

American car manufacturers General Motors, Ford and Chrysler are asking the U.S. Congress for a $34 billion bailout to keep them from going bankrupt.

The “Big Three”

General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have struggled for quite some time, more about each company in this section.

To Bailout or not?

The argument for and against the bailout. Most Americans are opposed to baling out the “Big Three” and believe that it will not have a positive effect on the economy, the United Auto Workers feel differently.

The Government and the Economy, Laissez-Faire vs. Past Examples

Whenever possible the U.S. government tries not to intervene in business. Historically, however, the government sometimes steps in to save an industry. Past examples include: the railroad industry, aircraft and car manufacturers.

The “Samurai” vs. “Cowboys”

One reason the “Big Three” is on the ropes is due to the strong competition from the Japanese automakers. The history of this battle is outlined in this article.

Russia’s Financial Crisis, Rethinking the Future

Interview with Clifford Gaddy, a Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, focusing on Foreign Policy, Global Economy and Development. Dr. Gaddy is an economist specializing in Russia, he is writing books on the political economy of Russian oil and gas and on the country’s long-term growth prospects. His earlier books include Russia’s Virtual Economy and The Siberian Curse.