March 31, 2024

Russian Prosperity is Good News for Putin


Russian Prosperity is Good News for Putin
Moscow, the possibly surprising most prosperous part of Russia. The Russian Life files.

A recent study of prosperity in Russian regions, done by civil society groups in collaboration with state news agency Izvestia, holds some surprises. And they could indicate why Putin's support is unflagging.

The index of social well-being, which takes into account poverty rate, average salaries, and cost of living, places Moscow at the top: it's an expensive place to live, but higher salaries make up for it. Also among the top five? The less well-known Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug, Chukotka, and Nenets Autonomous Okrug.

These regions are northerly petroleum exporters, meaning they likely have good jobs and a low cost of living.

St. Petersburg, Russia's second city, is tied for ninth place with Sakhalin Island.

The social scientists behind the ranking said that the poverty rate in Russia decreased in 2023, and that the nation is generally prosperous. Reflecting this, Russian citizens have a generally upbeat attitude towards the economy.

This is, of course, despite Russia's ongoing conflict with Ukraine and the consequences of international isolation. And it could reveal how Putin garnered 87 percent of the vote in recent presidential elections (besides plain old fraud): if people are optimistic about their financial prospects, they're less likely to dissent.

Of course, this is a state-funded study published by a state-funded newspaper, so we should also take it with a grain of salt.

You Might Also Like

Occupation Is Expensive
  • December 03, 2023

Occupation Is Expensive

An independent Russian news outlet reported that Russia is worse off economically because of its actions in Ukraine since 2013.
Who's to Blame?
  • September 11, 2023

Who's to Blame?

A G20 statement backs Ukraine but fails to place blame on Russia.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

A Taste of Chekhov
December 24, 2022

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.

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

White Magic
June 01, 2021

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.

Little Golden Calf
February 01, 2010

Little Golden Calf

Our edition of The Little Golden Calf, one of the greatest Russian satires ever, is the first new translation of this classic novel in nearly fifty years. It is also the first unabridged, uncensored English translation ever, and is 100% true to the original 1931 serial publication in the Russian journal 30 Dnei. Anne O. Fisher’s translation is copiously annotated, and includes an introduction by Alexandra Ilf, the daughter of one of the book’s two co-authors.

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

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.

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Woe From Wit (bilingual)
June 20, 2017

Woe From Wit (bilingual)

One of the most famous works of Russian literature, the four-act comedy in verse Woe from Wit skewers staid, nineteenth century Russian society, and it positively teems with “winged phrases” that are essential colloquialisms for students of Russian and Russian culture.

About Us

Russian Life is the 31-year-old publication of an award-winning publishing house that also creates books, 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