@shortstories @freepatriot @Paultron I think this is simply endemic of Statehood, in general

the fraud does not enter into external GDP calculations. current economic growth has been supported by ways to blunt the effects of foreign sanctions- electricity availability has grown massively despite bans on energy trading with the use of solar panels and windmills; harvests have been good rendering food security moot; a domestic medical industry is now capable of some pretty advanced pharmaceuticals offered directly to people at cost, so the blockade of medical goods is less effective; mass adoption of the mart phone amongst the citizenry has enabled a digital economy for small shops and farms for private enterprise

the infrastructure buildouts and brighter than ever cities are public and visible on easily available satellite imagery