The workers that used to get paid in inner tubes and food parcels are now getting regular pay-packets. There is even a factory hospital where employees and their families enjoy the most hi-tech equipment for miles around. But cold market principles do apply. Yevgenia, The hospital's radiologist has 30 years experience, yet she gets paid less than a cleaner. Like most people in Yaroslavl, she gave-up any hope of being rich along time ago. "At times we get more, but then they stop raising salaries... but we keep living and the hospital can still treat the patients, this is what matters." In towns like Yaroslavl private citizens might just succeed where Governments have failed.

Produced by ABC Australia