The Russian Federation faces important economic and social challenges. By 1998 national income was little more than half its level in 1990. Life expectancy for men is now about 61 years, compared to 65 years a decade ago. The rate of suicide and self-inflicted injuries is more than three times...

Tomsk is one of the oldest established centres of industry and learning in the Russian Federation. The city of Tomsk and its surrounding region now face challenging economic and resource utilisation problems. These must be overcome if the pace of development is to be quickened and deepened. At...