Argueably the poorest country in Europe, 1/4 of the 4 million citizens, roughly 70% of the working-age population, have moved abroad to work as unskilled laborers and send money back to their families. The economy still is mainly agrarian, comprised of small farms with one or two cows, some land where grapes and corn are most likely planted, and little else - a result of the privitization of the collective farms from Soviet times. Most citizens live in villages or smaller towns, like Cimislia, away from the capital and under generally less modern conditions. Wells are as common as running water and outhouses are more common than european plumbing. The infrastructure is poor, but in large part to Spanish energy giant, Union Fenosa, electricity is plentiful and reliable.
In the face of a bleak economic environment and a wave of nostalgia, the Communist Party gained power in 2001 and now controls the presidency and several mayoral posts across the country. Additionally, Moldova's government is struggling to control the break-away republic of Transniestria as well as the Turkish minority in Gaugauzia, all while attempting to wrangle 15% inflation, corruption, and a major female-trafficking issue.
To help, the UN, Peace Corps, USAID, International Red Cross, SOROS, Swiss Agency for Development, and many other aid organizations have offices here or are operating in Moldova.