Russia moves forwards integration into the international financial markets. The government is making effort to increase foreign investment. There are thousands of joint ventures and firms with foreign capital in Russia. Most growth comes from the service sector and trade.
The economic reforms carried out may lay the foundations for economic growth. Large and medium-size enterprises make more use of the funds of their customers and use their own resources to finance their activity.
Russia trades with the neighbouring countries and a great number of countries all over the world. The main exports are raw materials, chemicals, weapons, and manufactured goods. The main articles of its import are electronic equipment, consumer goods, machines, fruit, wines and electrical goods.
Some of the main crops grown in the country are wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes.
The main traditional industries are the metallurgical industry, the chemical industry, the mining industry, and the war industry. Special emphasis is being placed on the development of such light industries as the textile industry, the woodworking industry, and the food industry. Great emphasis is being made on management training because Russian industry needs industrial leaders. A great number of schools are training young people to become managers.
The industrial science sector is particularly important because with its help the manufacturing industries will be reconstructed, renovated technologically and start making competitive goods. There is, as everyone agrees, a long way ahead.
The two important and independent goals – macroeconomic stabilization and economic restructuring – are indicators for a transition from central planning to a market-based economy. The former entailed implementing fiscal and monetary policies that promote economic growth in an environment of stable prices and exchange rates. The latter required establishing commercial and institutional entities – banks, private property, and commercial legal codes – that permit the economy to operate efficiently. Opening domestic markets to foreign trade and investment, thus linking the economy with the rest of the world, was an important aid in reaching these goals.
Words and phrases that will help you to understand the text:
to extract – добывать
rare and precious metals – редкие и драгоценные металлы
to suffer – испытывать, переживать
working capital – оборотный капитал
to encourage – поощрять
restructing – реструктуризация
to find a market to survive – найти рыночную нишу
transition – переход
a stock market – рынок ценных бумаг
underground economy – теневая экономика
competitive goods – конкурентоспособные товары
ahead – впереди
Tasks after the text:
1. Russia is rich in ... (coal; oil; natural gas; iron ore; gold; zinc; copper; uranium ore; water resources).
2. The greater part of the population is employed in ... (fishing; hunting; heavy
industry; light industry; agriculture; the manufacturing industry; trade).
3. Industry is ... (concentrated in one area; widely dispersed; distributed
unevenly; concentrated in several industrial regions).
4. The main industries are… (the metallurgical industry; the chemical
industry; the electronic industry; the textile industry; the automobile
industry; the wood-working industry; the food industry; the shipbuilding
industry; the mining industry; the war industry).
5. Great emphasis is made on … (the development of industry;
the development of agriculture; research; management training; employing
scientific methods in farming).
6. In the past few years… (new industries have been created; automation has
been introduced at most factories and plants; labour productivity has
increased greatly; industrial output has decreased).
7. As a result of mechanization and automation... (many workers lost their
jobs; labor productivity increased greatly; the standard of living was raised
considerably).
8. Russia trades with… (the neighbouring countries; many countries; a great
number of countries all over the world).
The main exports (imports) are ... (grain; fruit; fish; wines; tobacco;
electronic equipment; electrical goods; chemicals; cars; machines;
weapons; raw materials; consumer goods; manufactured goods; foodstuff).
1. Is the Russian Federation rich in natural resources? 2. What are its main natural resources?
3. What are its main industries?
4. Where are the main industrial centers located?
5. What is being done to intensify production and increase labour
productivity?
6. Are many workers employed in manufacturing?
7. Does Russia trade with other countries?
8. What is being done to make the farmer's work more productive?
9. How is management training organized?
1. Russia is rich in... 2. The greater part of the population is employed in .... 3. Its industry is.... 4. The main branches of industry are ... 5. Great emphasis is made on... 6. In the past few years... 7. As a result of automation ... 8. Russia trades with... 9. The main exports are... 10. The main imports are...
l. Russia is rich (poor) in natural resources. 2. It imports (exports) ... from (to)... 5. It is a highly industrialized country. (It is an agricultural country.). 4. Its industry is located ... 5. Nearly (Over) ... workers are employed in manufacturing work. 6. Special emphasis is being placed on the development of such industries as … 7. In recent years new branches have been added to the traditional industries of the country, such as … 8. It is (not) profitable for the country to produce … because it has a lot of (very few) raw materials. 9. Great attention is also paid to the development of… 10. The country's share in the world industrial output has (greatly) increased (decreased) in the past few years. 11. It trades with … l2. The main articles of its import (export) are …13. The demand for its products is (great; increasing with every passing year; decreasing). 14. It is very profitable to trade with ... 15. The main crops grown in the country are…
Экономика России
Российская Федерация – крупная промышленная страна с различными отраслями тяжелой и легкой промышленности. Страна стремится создать рыночную экономику.
Россия – одна из самых богатых стран мира по минеральным ресурсам. Она богата такими полезными ископаемыми как уголь, нефть, природный газ, железная руда, золото, а также водными запасами и древесиной.
Россия не зависит финансово и экономически от какой-либо другой страны. Большая часть ее населения занята в тяжелой и легкой промышленности, а также в торговле и секторе услуг. Ее промышленность широко рассредоточена, но имеются несколько основных промышленных районов на Урале и в Сибири.
Основные традиционные отрасли промышленности это металлургическая промышленность, химическая промышленность, авиационная промышленность, военная промышленность, добывающая промышленность и машиностроение. Но за последние несколько лет в результате экономических реформ, выпуск промышленной продукции снизился, и многие рабочие потеряли работу. Промышленные предприятия испытывают серьезную нехватку финансов и недостаток оборотного капитала. Им необходимы техническое перевооружение и развитие. Эти трудности являются результатом экономического перехода к рыночной экономике.
Сегодня большие изменения происходят в России. Экономика России в основном находится в частной собственности. В стране сложился рынок ценных бумаг. Имеются тысячи совместных предприятий и фирм с иностранным капиталом. Новые отрасли промышленности создаются, чтобы ускорить производство. Механизация и автоматизация используются для того, чтобы повысить производительность труда и выпуск конкурентоспособной продукции.
Страна должна осуществить экономические реформы в промышленности и сельском хозяйстве. Центрально – Черноземный район и Краснодарский край – сельскохозяйственные районы. Основные сельскохозяйственные культуры, выращиваемые в стране, это пшеница, ячмень, овес, картофель и другие овощи. Разводят крупный рогатый скот и свиней. Чтобы сделать работу фермера более производительной, применяются научные методы ведения сельского хозяйства. Спрос на ее продукцию увеличивается с каждым годом.
Экономическая система управления переходит от административных методов к экономическим. Стране необходимо уменьшить огромный бюджетный дефицит, за счет правительственных расходов и улучшения сбора налогов.
В настоящее время основной рост приходится на сектор услуг и торговлю. Для страны выгодно производить полуфабрикаты и дешевые товары, так как она обладает многими сырьевыми материалами.
Россия ведет торговлю с соседними странами и с большим количеством стран во всем мире. Основными статьями экспорта являются сырьевые материалы, оружие, изделия химической промышленности и промышленные товары. Россия импортирует товары широкого потребления, электронное оборудование, продовольствие.
Сегодня большое внимание в России уделяется развитию новых отраслей промышленности, особенно легкой и пищевой. Правительство прикладывает усилия, чтобы увеличить иностранные капиталовложения. Особое внимание уделяется обучению управлению. Большое количество учебных заведений готовит молодых людей, которые становятся промышленными руководителями.
Today Australia competes in world markets for the export of its agriculture and mineral products.
Australia is rich in mineral resources, notably bauxite, coal, gold, iron ore, nickel, and petroleum. Fertile farmland is at a premium because much of the land is desert. Australia, however, has become one of the leading agricultural producers in the world by applying modern irrigation techniques to vast tracts of arid soil. Despite the great expansion in mining and manufacturing after 1940, the prosperity of the country continues to be largely dependent on livestock raising and crop farming.
Queensland is the leading cattle-producing state, containing approximately one-third of the estimated 23.5 million heads of cattle in Australia in the late 1980s. The country produces both beef and dairy cattle.
Although only about 6 percent of the total area of Australia is under crop or fodder production, this acreage is of great economic importance. Wheat crops occupy about 60 percent of cultivated acreage, and fodder crops and grains occupy 20 percent. The bulk of the wheat crop is grown in the south-eastern and southwestern regions of the country. Oats, barley, rye, hay, and fodder crops also are important. Rice is grown in the Northern Territory. Many types of fruit are grown, including pineapples, bananas, papayas, and citrus fruit. The major wine-producing areas are in the Southern Australia. Special varieties of grapes are grown for the production of raisins.
Australia is an outstanding producer of primary products. The country is self-sufficient in almost all foodstuffs and is a major exporter of wheat, meat, dairy products, and wool. Australia usually produces more than 25 percent of the world's yearly output of wool. The volume of manufacturing grew rapidly between the 1940s and 1970s, and mining became a leading sector in the economy during the 1960s. Indeed, minerals have surpassed wool as the leading export.
In the 1993 fiscal year the estimated federal budget included about $ 68.5 billion of revenue and about $ 78 billion of expenditure.
Britain is one of the most highly industrialised countries in the world, having pioneered the industrial revolution during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries when a series of inventions led to a complete change in the character of production.
Nearly 30 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) comes from manufacturing industry while the service industries (including transport, communication, distributive trades, insurance, banking, finance and business services, public administration and defence, public health and education) provide almost 60 per cent. The volume of output of goods and services (or GDP) has more than doubled over the past 30 years. About one-third of GDP is exported, international trade being of crucial importance.
The economy is mixed, with both private and state participation in, and ownership of, industry. Among the industries in which there is state participation are fuel and power, steel manufacture, the railways, airports and airlines, aerospace and shipbuilding.
Like the rest of the world Britain was affected by the abrupt increase in the prices of commodities in 1972 and 1973, particularly of oil. These and subsequent additional oil price rises have had a depressing effect on economic activity and with inflation have led to recession in much of the industrialised world, producing also large balance of payments deficits in oil-importing countries.
Government economic policy is directed towards controlling inflation through firm fiscal and monetary policies and increasing competition, reducing public expenditure, restoring incentives to industry, particularly small businesses, and reducing the extent of state ownership.
Industrial relations are chiefly based on voluntary organization and on agreements negotiated between employees and employers - often through trade unions and employers' associations.
Manufacturing plays an important role in the economy, accounting for more than 90 per cent of visible exports and nearly 30 per cent of national income -almost 70 per cent of all income from production industries. Over 30 per cent of all employees are engaged in manufacturing.
water resources
doesn’t depend financially and economically on …
service sector
in the past few years
as a result of
great changes
output of competitive goods
has to carry out
with every passing year
the economic management system is transferred from …
various branches of heavy and light industry
is aiming to built
in terms of
a serious deficiency of finance
shortages of working capital
to encourage the growth
a stock market
improving tax collection
underground economy
drive up prices
joint ventures
large and medium-size enterprises
to make use of
neighbouring countries
to make up an important branch
UNIT IV
Canada has a developed market economy that is export-directed and closely linked with the United States. The nation's economy grew sporadically - at times strongly - in the late 20lh century. Low world prices for oil, gas, and wheat, some of Canada's major exports, were largely responsible for its periods of slower growth. A high rate of inflation and persistently high unemployment continued to vex the country's policy makers. Canada continues, however, to be ranked with Switzerland, Sweden, and United States as one of the most affluent countries in the world. The gross national product (GNP) is growing much faster than the population; the GNP per capita is among the highest in the world.
With its great natural resources, skilled labour force, and modern capital plant, Canada, as an affluent, high-tech industrial society, has excellent economic prospects.
Nearly one-fifth of Canadian workers are in manufacturing. Industry is highly mechanised and includes petroleum products, car manufacture, food and metal processing. Ontario contains most of the car factories, is the main steel producer and has important aircraft, electronics and electrical machinery sectors. Quebec has textiles, paper and wood products, clothing, chemicals and engineering.
Inevitable, most international trade is with the USA, and nearly half of Canada's manufacturing industry is owned by American firms. US President John F. Kennedy told the Canadian Parliament in 1961: Geography has made us neighbours, history gas made us friends, economics has made us partners and necessity has made us allies.
More than 80 per cent of Canada's farmland is in the prairies and two-thirds of farm income is earned by prairie farmers. Despite the importance of agriculture, only about one Canadian in 80 is a farmer. The average farm size is about 225 hectares (555 acres).
Canada exports wheat and other grain crops. Tall narrow grain elevators, where the rain harvest is stored, are distinctive landmarks. In addition to grain, large prairie areas are devoted to raising cattle.
Canada's major natural resource is the forests that cover more than half of the total land area. Most woodland is coniferous: fir, pine and spruce. Canada is the world's largest exporter of wood pulp and paper. Canada has developed nuclear technology and has four major nuclear power stations.