Smoke and mirrors.

This article examines the economic conditions of Russia and the economic policies of its president, Vladimir Putin as he prepares to leave office. A country that almost went bust ten years ago now boasts a $1.3 trillion economy, foreign-currency reserves of nearly $480 billion and a $144 billion stabilisation fund for surplus oil and gas revenue. Annual growth of real incomes has been in double digits, GDP per head has risen from less than $2,000 in 1998 to $9,000 in 2008.