Eight years of 7% average annual GDP growth during Putin’s previous presidency (2000-2008) allowed Russia to repay its debts, accumulate almost $600 billion in foreign-currency reserves, and join the leading emerging economies. A decade after the 1998 crisis brought Russia to its knees, its leaders boasted that the country could weather the 2008 financial crisis.
欧洲深陷主权债务危机，美国的领导人正在争论如何遏制赤字，与欧洲和美国不同，俄罗斯看起来好像是一个稳定而具有连续性的美好国度。但是这种连续性更加让人想起勃列日涅夫时代的停滞。