Sergei Ryazanov, 30, a businessman from the Siberian city of Surgut, took out an advertisement a month ago offering to barter excess metal piping. So far, he has not been impressed by the offers he has received; he said people were not desperate enough to drop prices. He is looking for a truly liquid commodity, something universal, like gasoline. Even underwear, which, he said, “is much more liquid than automobiles.” —Ellen Barry reporting in "Have Car, Need Briefs? In Russia, Barter Is Back"

I'll trade you my briefs for some turnips and guarantee their liquidity.

Tags: news and politics Russia barter liquidity crisis