No. 241: Russia's Economy

Author(s): Peter Rutland, Stephen K. Wegren
Series Editor(s): Stephen Aris, Matthias Neumann, Robert Orttung, Jeronim Perović, Heiko Pleines, Hans-Henning Schröder, Aglaya Snetkov
Series: Russian Analytical Digest (RAD)
Volume: 241
Publisher(s): Center for Security Studies (CSS), ETH Zürich; Research Centre for East European Studies (FSO), University of Bremen; Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies (IERES), George Washington University; Center for Eastern European Studies (CEES), University of Zurich; German Association for East European Studies (DGO)
Publication Year: 2019

The topic of this edition is Russia’s economy. Firstly, Peter Rutland posits that Russia is an ailing petrostate, but that it is not clear if it is failing. It faces three sources of instability: shifts in international energy markets, the challenge of climate change, and the breakdown of the social contract at home. The country’s changing economic fortunes may ultimately lead to a new political model as well. Secondly, Stephen K. Wegren assesses the effects and consequences of Russia’s food embargo against Western nations (which essentially shut off access to the Russian food market). In particular, the article examines the effects on Russian domestic food producers, food exporters, and consumers. The conclusion considers whether the effects of the food embargo are easily reversible.

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