Arise, Ye Prisoners of Starvation

In the uncertain days of communism's collapse, Russian farmers were unmotivated and struggling. When McDonald's decided to take a chance on them, enlisting Russians to provide beef, milk, and pickles for the new restaurants, the farmers were astonished. In the last decade, though, McDonald's has thrived in Russia, offering novelty, dependable jobs, and a clean place to eat for a budding middle class. Indeed, the success of McDonald's reflects an increasing optimism about the Russian economy across the country. -YaleGlobal