Conversation

During 1990s Economic Crisis, Russian teachers were paid with Vodka bottles, instead of cash made sense when actual currency was almost worthless. As USSR collapsed and hyperinflation soared, Russians referred to rubles as “Wooden” money

In 1998, authorities in one Siberian district gave 8000 school teachers 15 bottles apiece, in lieu of wages. According to report, had been toilet paper & coffins, but vodka is favored as only thing that could be freely sold or exchanged for bread and other food