For what concerns Russia, the difference between incomes is even more than in Bulgaria. A minimum pension in Russia is RUR 14,000. It means USD 4.52 (four dollars and fifty two cents) per month. A physicist in a state research institute gets USD 20, a bus driver in a state bus company about 400 dollars. A secretary in a private company from 500 to 1,000 dollars. A half liter of milk costs $ 0.50, packet of Marlboro $ 1, 1 kg of cheese - $ 2-3, salame - $ 5-6, 1 kg of bread $ 0.25. Ecco.

But the "medium sallary" was 225,000 roubles. In September, when it was counted, it was exactly 11 dollars, as it was reported in The Economist. But after that time The Black Tuesday was happened, when dollar increased almost twice (up to 4,000 roubles) and then in two days came back. Now the rate is 3,100 rubles for 1 dollar. But it means, among other things, that medium sallary (its ruble's amount didn't change) is now already not 11, but about 7.23 dollars.

By this way - AND IT IS MY NEW PROPOSAL CONCERNING RUSSIAN MINIMUM FEE - the 1995 fee for Russia should be established as 8 dollars, but not 11 dollars.

Nevertheless I still propose as before to use also "a recommended fee" for Russia as 24 dollars, because it is exactly cost of one newspaper each day during the whole year. Let's not use the cost of one daily cap of coffee in an extremely cheap bar, because in this case recommended fee will be only two times less than in Italy, and in a normal Russian bar it will be twice more than in Italy...