Abstract
Russia has inherited the powerful heavy industry of the USSR, especially steel mills, refineries and chemical plants. The sectors of weapons and the Aerospace are still well developed. Since the beginning of the 1990's, the planned economy turned to a market economy. The economic and political situation was disturbed until 1998 when the Russian financial system collapsed. Indeed between 1990 and 1998, the GDP decreased by 45%. Since 2000 and owing to the soaring raw material prices, the Russian economy experienced a strong rebound. Measurements were taken against tax fraud which resulted in the arrest of some oligarchs. The exports of Russian oil and gas provide 40% and 30% of the European Union's consumption and demand is increasing.
