[x5452]

Heh, I've been there, and love the prices (I lived like a king for a month in rural Russia spending only about 1000 dollars).

My programmer friend there makes about 250 a month. (It's all contract work though so it's sporadic).

I don't think 1000/month will stop young unmarried folks from leaving Russia if they are given the oppurtunity, though it may make some stop actively searching for one.

Personally I'm worried about both emmigration, as well as abortion rates.

I think Putin should ban abortion until the population rate corrects, and give tax breaks for children.

[jb6]

Abortion post 12 weeks has been banned for almost 3 years now. Many oblasts now give incentives for kids: have 3 kids in 5 years and we'll buy you a house/farm as long as you prove you're clean and sombor and have a job.

The government there also gives incentives for kids though I think if you gave people a 100% break from income tax for 2 years after each kid is born, it would move things along.