March 19, 2021

Coming Up Roses


Coming Up Roses
Maybe the value of the ruble will rise again soon. Petar Milošević, Wikimedia Commons

Russia has apparently emerged victorious from the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in two key ways: its vaccine has turned out to be highly effective even as Europeans struggle to get vaccinated, and its economy has turned out to be more resilient than most.

Moscow's Higher School of Economics (HSE), named after the London School of Economics, released a report showing how Russia's GDP remained happily consistent in 2020 relative to the rest of the world.

An ironic consequence of the 2014 economic sanctions against Russia is that the economy contracted well before 2020 and began preparing for the worst of times. According to this new research, this shift brought stagnation to the pandemic-era Russian economy rather than recession or depression.

Typically, Russia is hit worse by global economic problems. In the 2008-2009 recession, the world economy declined by (only?) .01%, while Russia's economy declined by 7.8%. Conversely, in 2020, the global economy receded by 3.5% and Russia came out looking better than the U.S., Japan, Germany, France, and Spain.

The HSE report outlines three key reasons for Russia's macroeconomic success: 1. The so-called "budget rule," 2. Business loans, and 3. State-sponsored businesses.

Russia had hedged against a falling oil price by "saving, not splurging" the revenue generated in periods of a high price per barrel. This is the "budget rule." It is the same kind of economic thinking that makes subsistence farmers invent ways to preserve surplus food for leaner times. The budget rule is smart, not sexy, policy; you will not see any $1.9 trillion stimulus packages coming out of Moscow.

The second key to Russia's economic success is giving businesses loans to cover salaries and lowering insurance premiums for businesses during the pandemic.

The third aspect is that more Russian businesses were already state-sponsored and larger than in the West. The service sector is also smaller in Russia.

Praise for Russia's economy has come from the International Monetary Fund and even The Moscow Times. Compare this to The Moscow Times' prediction last March that the pandemic might destroy Russia's "isolated" economy.

It turns out that isolation is an advantage when it comes to a global pandemic.

Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of Our Books

White Magic

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.
The Little Humpbacked Horse

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.
A Taste of Russia

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.
Fish: A History of One Migration

Fish: A History of One Migration

This mesmerizing novel from one of Russia’s most important modern authors traces the life journey of a selfless Russian everywoman. In the wake of the Soviet breakup, inexorable forces drag Vera across the breadth of the Russian empire. Facing a relentless onslaught of human and social trials, she swims against the current of life, countering adversity and pain with compassion and hope, in many ways personifying Mother Russia’s torment and resilience amid the Soviet disintegration.
A Taste of Chekhov

A Taste of Chekhov

This compact volume is an introduction to the works of Chekhov the master storyteller, via nine stories spanning the last twenty years of his life.
At the Circus

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.
The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.  
22 Russian Crosswords

22 Russian Crosswords

Test your knowledge of the Russian language, Russian history and society with these 22 challenging puzzles taken from the pages of Russian Life magazine. Most all the clues are in English, but you must fill in the answers in Russian. If you get stumped, of course all the puzzles have answers printed at the back of the book.
Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

Maria's War: A Soldier's Autobiography

This astonishingly gripping autobiography by the founder of the Russian Women’s Death Battallion in World War I is an eye-opening documentary of life before, during and after the Bolshevik Revolution.
Survival Russian

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955