The article under review, The war’s price tag for Russia will be high by Ben Aris (2022), touches on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the costs the former is set to incur for choosing to start it. The author sums up all that Russia has lost and is likely to lose, including comparing pre-war and post-war growth and cost projections, economic stagnation, and lost productivity. The author then concludes with what to expect as the conflict evolves and what the long-term future looks like.
Opportunity cost refers to possible benefits an entity misses out on when they go with a given alternative over another. This concept relates to the topic covered because the article discusses what Russia lost by choosing to start the conflict with Ukraine. The author outlines what the country has lost, including potential economic growth, productivity, quality of life for its citizens, technological advancement, and certainty. All these are promising opportunities Russia lost because of starting the war.
This is an informative article, drawing from the author’s approach. First, the article includes numbers and figures from different studies and reports. Second, it features comments from experts and knowledgeable individuals. The author includes projections, percentages, and estimations to depict what Russia has lost clearly. He also provides input from different stakeholders, talking about what the country stood to gain and what it has lost by initiating the conflict.
The author did well and reasonably covered the topic thoroughly. The context provided is adequate because the article covers Russia’s outlook before the conflict, during, and after. It also includes concrete figures that paint an exact picture of the situation as it evolves. The reader leaves well-informed and equipped with adequate information about what the country has lost by choosing to instigate the conflict. No relevant information is left out in this concise explanation of Russia’s predicament.
Reference
Aris, B. (2022). The war’s price tag for Russia will be high. www.intellinews.com.