Economics

A baby boom suggests one of Russia's largest cities will not be cowed by economic crisis or fear of the future

For many Russians the dacha or country cottage is a very important part of life, but this too has been affected by the economic crisis according to statistics - or has it?

The long-running issue of Russia's entry to the World Trade Organisation may finally be coming to a head. Last month Putin declared that Russia would apply only as part of a customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan. Then at the G8 Medvedev suggested Russia might still accede alone. This would be the right course of action, argues Natalya Volchkova. Putin's proposal is not remotely in Russia's interests

Summer pleasures on the Volga put the machinations of Russia's elites into perspective

Beyond the caricature of the land where bears roam the streets and people travel by reindeer, LNG exports to Japan and economic crisis connect the charmed island to the world

The Kremlin's choice to hold the latest EU-Russia summit in the far eastern city of Khabarovsk, right by China, may have been political - China wants Russia's gas too. But for the residents of Khabarovsk, the summit just meant traffic jams, and China's proximity just means industrial pollution

  An almost serious look at the relationship between the state and its citizens during the current economic crisis - or, indeed, at any time!

Economic geography concentrates the pain of economic crisis in Russia, while demonstrations in the Far East reflect the frustrations of over-centralisation

 The current economic crisis is the fourth since Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in 1985. Each has had common features, though the differences between them are much more important.

  Today we start our collaboration with fergana.ru,  the best source of information on Central Asia, with the findings of an indepth survey on Uzbek migration.  Some 30% of Uzbeks are forced to become migrant workers, at home or abroad. What will happen when they start being laid off? Disaster looms.

After the market embrace and the state's resurgence, what next?

Surgut's image in Russia as an oil-rich paradise can't survive a visit there

The whole world is in the grip of an economic crisis.  Most countries have been through similar extremely difficult periods at some point in their history, but Russia has only encountered concepts such as the mortgage and violent  stock market fluctuations in the last 17 years.  Natalya Spitsyna gives a detailed overview of the way the Moscow property market has been affected.

Trading on the Russian stock market has been suspended for two days. In this penetrating article Dmitri Travin examines some of the reasons for the current panic and the effect the war with Georgia has had on the Russian economy.

Countries like Russia ‘cursed' with natural resources need effective international scrutiny to ensure that the profits benefit society. But the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative proposed by Blair only whitewashes corruption and enriches the auditors, Julia Gouseva explains.

Where did Russia's political opposition go? The story begins in the early 1990s...

The petrodollar boom could be used for social benefit. That needs public dialogue and decision

Russia is awash with oil, money, inflation, and corruption. Many are bouyed, but all worry