UBI Is Programmed. (Like It or Not)

This about Economy, tagged , , was written by for on May 4, 2023 .1 Comment

The coming of AI has made Universal Basic Income a political and technological inevitability in the long-term, regardless of whether there are extensive attempts at AI control.

Impressions of the Saint-Petersburg International Economic Forum

This about Economy, tagged , was written by for on May 23, 2014 .122 Comments

I am currently in St. Petersburg where I have attended the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Before saying anything further I wish to thank Peter Lavelle of RT TV for very kindly and very generously arranging my invitation to the Forum. At the Forum I attended three roundtables: (1) On the InfoWars brilliantly hosted and […]

“Everything is Annihilated”: The Economic Split of Ukraine

This , about Economy, tagged , , , was written by for on February 2, 2014 .81 Comments

The attention of political analysts around the world is focused on the events in Ukraine. But at a certain moment, the fires die out and the riots subside – what will remain are the dry statistics. Translator’s notes: This is a translation of a post on the weblog “Sputnik and Pogrom”, the authors can be […]

The Russian Aerospace Industry is Rapidly Recovering

This about Economy, tagged , , was written by for on September 2, 2013 .9 Comments

More info against the Department of Russia Only Produces Oil and Vodka: Here are some graphs of Russian aerospace manufacturing courtesy of the Reality vs. Myths blog. (2013 figures are projections). Total helicopter construction has now basically converged with the levels of the late RSFSR. Aircraft construction is only halfway there, but its state is nonetheless leagues […]

Russia Overtakes Germany To Become Europe’s Largest Economy

This about Economy, tagged , , , was written by for on July 12, 2013 .38 Comments

See data. For real, this time. While it is perhaps a big strange to start thinking of Russia as a high-income economy, it’s not so surprising when looking at concrete statistics such as vehicle consumption, Internet penetration, etc. – all of which are now at typical South European and advanced East-Central European levels (even if there’s still some […]

Russia’s Economic “Stagnation” In Global Perspective: Continued

This about Economy, tagged , , was written by for on July 3, 2013 .29 Comments

It is now a staple of “common wisdom” to such an extent that there is little point in digging up specific news items. Bound up in red tape and crushed by the weight of state regulations, the argument goes, the Russian economy is doomed to years of renewed Brezhnevite stagnation – with the government increasing […]

Translation: Russia’s Growth Rate may Plummet in the Next Decade

This about Economy, tagged , , was written by for on May 24, 2013 .No Comments

According to several experts, Russia may be facing a period of protracted low growth rates now that its GDP per capita has recently exceeded $16,000. Vedomosti’s Olga Kuvshinova has the details. Russia may Experience Minimal Growth in the Next 10 Years A variety of reasons are brought up to explain the Russian economy’s slowdown to […]

The West Made Its Bed, Now Russia Will Lie In China’s

This about Economy, tagged , , , , was written by for , on April 11, 2013 .10 Comments

The latest US-Russia.org Experts Panel discussion was about Russia’s burgeoning partnership with China. I especially recommend Mercouris’ contribution which – although unfortunately titled by VoR’s editorial staff)) – is otherwise quite brilliant. My own effort follows below: First of all, let me preface that I’m one of the biggest China bulls around. Its economy in real […]

Explaining Russia’s Economic Slowdown

This about Economy, tagged , , was written by for on April 1, 2013 .15 Comments

The Russian economy is steadily converging on stagnation in the past few months. For real, this time. Businesses are becoming more pessimistic, and industrial production in the first two months of this year is 1.5% lower than for the corresponding period last year. What explains this? Alexander Mercouris explains: Might this not be a good […]

Russia Moving Into The Fastlane

This about Economy, tagged , , was written by for on March 29, 2013 .1 Comment

One of the most reliable indicators of influence is access to cars. They are the standard symbol of affluence and middle-class status the world over. They are also far more understandable at the everyday level than things like the PPP GDP per capita, or the number of burgers your national McWage will buy. Following on […]

Russians Produce 7 Cars For Every 10 They Buy

This about Economy, tagged , , , was written by for on March 28, 2013 .3 Comments

One common trope about the Russian economy is that it has virtually no manufacturing to speak of and lives off “oil rents” that can collapse any day. Whiles there is a small nugget of truth to this assertion, but by and large it is simply false. It is true that a great chunk of Russian […]

On The Cyprus Deal

This about Economy, tagged , , , was written by for on March 26, 2013 .14 Comments

As a Greek with contacts in Cyprus, his opinion is one of the most valuable ones out there. Here it is: We have now the latest bailout plan and contrary to the spin in parts of the western media it is COMPLETELY DIFFERENT from the plan we saw last week. What was utterly outrageous about […]