FLRU 2520 Russia Today

Nancy Ries: BUSINESS, TAXES, AND CORRUPTION IN RUSSIA

Read the article BUSINESS, TAXES, AND CORRUPTION IN RUSSIA.
  1. What is the attitude of Russian businesspeople toward taxes?
  2. According to the author, one business person said "I would like to pay taxes honestly," he said, "but they make that impossible." How do they make it impossible?
  3. How does this same person avoid paying taxes that he is supposed to be paying?
  4. How do companies handle their transactions to avoid paying taxes?
  5. How do employees avoid paying taxes at the higher rate?
  6. What strategy do businesses use to help maintain the concealment of profits to avoid paying large taxes?
  7. What are relationships like among employees in Russian firms? Why is this type of relationship important?
  8. What is the attitude toward "honesty" in paying taxts? What is the example described in the article?
  9. Many Russians say to hand over taxes willingly is seen as enriching government bureaucrats at the expense of the "community." What do you think of this attitude?