Like other parts of Russia, Saint Petersburg has suffered from a variety of social and economic problems since the collapse of the USSR. Crime, especially petty theft and vandalism, has risen significantly in the city, and because Russia has been slow to develop a legal framework for its market economy, official corruption is widespread. A continued decline in real wages, combined with persistent failure by employers to pay them, has kept the standard of living down. Health care is free but the quality is low, and air and water pollution from heavy industry take a toll on the population's health.
The rapid increase in private automobiles (from 56 per 1000 households in 1990 to 119 in 1995) has caused growing traffic congestion in the city, a problem aggravated by the poor condition of the roads. Because of strong winds from the Baltic Sea, flooding is a constant problem, especially in the low-lying areas. Since its founding in 1703 the city has experienced more than 250 floods.Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2001
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