These coupons were not originally intended to be the new Ukrainian rency. However, as Ukraine's economy developed, these coupons came widely accepted as money. At first, Ukrainians were using both e coupons and the Russian ruble. As the new monetary system placed the old one, rubles became less acceptable for making pur-hases. The acceptance of the ration coupons made them the unofficial urrency of Ukraine. Today Ukraine's currency is the hryvnia. In recent years, in an effort to expand the country's economic development, the World Bank has pro-ided Ukraine with several major loans. Two of these were designed to improve agricultural productivity and to expand food product exports. Ukraine's rich soil is well suited to growing grains, sugar beets, vegeta-bles, and other farm products. Think Critically 1. What problems can occur in an economy that does not have enough money in circulation? 2. What made the ration coupons valuable in the Ukrainian economy? 3. What made the Russian ruble less acceptable among Ukrainians