Pavel Usanov

Pavel Usanov is head of the Hayek Institute for Economy and Law in St. Petersburg and Reader at the Higher School of Economics.

Russian money laundering: how does it work?

Cyprus’s monetary crisis has drawn international attention to the island’s role as a tax haven and money laundry for Russia’s rich. Meanwhile, Putin has announced a crackdown at home — which Pavel Usanov believes is doomed to failure, given the all-pervasive corruption of life in Russia.

By Pavel Usanov

/ 8 Apr 2013

An investment wonderland? Reality checks

Since the collapse of the USSR investors have flocked to Russia, tempted by the high rates of return and the Alice in Wonderland atmosphere in Moscow, where everything seems possible. But the Russian business community has rather less faith in the future promised them by their government, says Pav

By Pavel Usanov

/ 11 Jan 2013

The Russian banking system: between the market and the state

For the last 20 years Russian attitudes to banks have been ambivalent. From no trust at all to feverish delight at the interest rates delivered by the oil boom and back to severe doubts during the recent crisis period. Competition needs to develop and the banks need to come out of the hands of the

By Pavel Usanov

/ 15 Nov 2011