Virtual_Russia

Virtual Field Trip to Russia and the Eurasian Republics
Purpose: to gain a better understanding of the economic environment in Russia and the Eurasian Republics.
Your Tour Guide - Mrs. Krohn, Geography teacher with Waltrip High School
Teachers Guide \| Data \| Vocabulary \| Process \| Product \|
http://www.countrywatch.com/cw_regions.asp?REGION=4
Russia and the Eurasian Republics covers an area greater in size than Canada, United States and Mexico. The former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, now 15 separate countries, were governed under a communist regime from 1922 until the fall in 1991. Now, each country is struggling to accomplish reforms to both its government and economy in an effort to compete in today's global economy. During this Virtual Field Trip, we will explore a few of the countries that make up this region and determine the way the people satisfy their basic needs through production of goods and services. This essay, http://www.keirsey.com/Gorbachev.html , written by David Mark Kiersey describes the fall of USSR. Our mission is to discover whether or not these countries have made the difficult transition from a command economy to a market economy.
Vocabulary Use the following link to define the necessary vocabulary. http://amosweb.com/gls/ command economy market economy planned economy mixed economy socialism communism capitalism How are these term are related? Which are theoretical terms and do not apply to not real life situations? http://www.infonorth.org/strategy/presentations/Tradtional%20Economy%20Presentation/sld001.htm use this link to gain an understanding of a Traditional Economy. ( The first few slides should give you an adequate definition)
Process: based upon the definitions gathered, review the economic systems and indicators in some of the countries in the region called Russia and the Eurasian Republics and compare the economic systems. Determine the role of the government in the economy, who allocates resources, who sets production targets, what are the most serious economic problems facing these countries.
Use the following chart to collect data for the project. You can gather the data from the CIA World Factbook
The Product Based upon the information that you have gathered, write an essay comparing the concepts of a command economy to the market economy in which we live. Be sure to discuss the form of government under which each economy operates and how each economy meets the needs of its citizens. Summarize the essay with a final paragraph comparing the information that you gathered about one of the countries from the former Soviet Union and you decision about whether or not that country has successfully transitioned to a market economy.