Russia’s fiscal situation, determined by Putin’s arbitrary budget management, is hardly better. Putin’s priorities are clear: first come the military, the security apparatus, and the state administration; second are the major infrastructure projects from which he and his cronies make their fortunes; social expenditures (primarily pensions), needed to maintain popular support, come last.
由普京随心所欲的预算管理决定的俄罗斯财政状况也好不到哪里去。普京的优先项是明确的：首先是军事、安全机构和国家行政；然后是他和他的权贵们从中渔利的重大基础设施工程；维持公共支持所需要的社会支出（主要是养老金）排在最后。突然间，石油收入让这三者都无法满足。