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<P>Are there any statistics on the differential between the average rate of return on capital between Russia and China from direct foreign investment. Isn't the worldwide surplus of money capital searching for the highest returns (20% or more) with the least risk of loss? If the average returns from Russia are higher than from China, then secondary factors would have to be looked at, but if the average returns from China are higher than from Russia, it would seem money capital would head for the higher average returns. Or is the average rate of profit a theoretical abstraction without concrete application to the flow of money capital internationally?<BR>><BR>>Chris Doss wrote:<BR>><BR>>>Russia's been growing like mad since 1998;<BR>><BR>>Thanks in large part to high oil prices, no?<BR>><BR>>> > What's Russia
got besides oil, rocks, and trees?<BR>>>><BR>>><BR>>>If by "rocks" you mean diamonds and natural gas --<BR>>>ALROSA is the second-largest diamond company in the<BR>>>world, Norilsk Nickel is the largest palladium-metals<BR>>>company in the world (if I remember aright), this new<BR>>>Gazprom-Yukos thing is the world's largest energy<BR>>>company...<BR>><BR>>Yeah, but natural resource endowments are often a "curse," as they <BR>>say. They don't generate real industrial or social development; <BR>>instead, they often create a corrupt, parasitical elite that leaves <BR>>the lucky country polluted and poor.<BR>><BR>>Doug<BR>>___________________________________<BR>>http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/mailman/listinfo/lbo-talk<BR></P></DIV></div></html>