Living Standards of Russians Will Twofold Deteriorate

After having attended the Moscow Economic Forum I was surprisedto find that among a vast number of participants I failed to meet at leastone who would share the opinion that the government of Russia hasan elaborate economic policy. The majority of participants are sharingthe opinion that the authorities are enthralled by illusions. There was abelief that oil prices would not fall below 80 dollars per barrel, but theyhave fallen; that after accession of Crimea the West would not imposeany sanctions, but they have imposed ones; that after imposition ofsanctions we would obtain credits in Asia and the Chinese investmentswould flow in Russia, but there is no such flow; that after devaluationthere would be no price rising, and the prices have risen, and etc.