Russia enjoyed a decade of rapid economic growth between 1999 and 2008. Following a recession in 2009, Russia recovered slowly until the end of 2014, when a drop in the price of oil, a depreciation in the ruble, Western sanctions, and a loss of investor confidence led to another downturn. This report takes stock of the medium-term outlook for the Russian economy in light of these factors and given the underlying business environment in Russia.

Russia's Medium-Term Economic Prospects

Keith Crane, Shanthi Nataraj, Patrick B. Johnston, Gursel Rafig oglu Aliyev

ResearchPublished Jun 22, 2016

Russia enjoyed a decade of rapid economic growth between 1999 and 2008. Following a recession in 2009, Russia recovered slowly until the end of 2014. In 2015, Russia fell into another downturn, primarily caused by the sharp fall in the price of oil; the ensuing depreciation of the ruble and corresponding increases in inflation; rising policy barriers to private economic activity; a loss of investor confidence stemming from Putin's economic, political, and foreign policies; and Western sanctions on key parts of the Russian financial and energy sectors. This report takes stock of the medium-term outlook for the Russian economy. It finds that, without major policy changes, the Russian economy will grow slowly in the medium term, even if world market prices for oil rebound sharply by the end of the decade. However, there is much that the Russian government could do internally to accelerate growth. A combination of an aggressive program to privatize state-owned assets, clamping down on corruption, and improving the business environment should accelerate growth in total factor productivity.

Key Findings

Petroleum Was Important but not the only Factor in Russia's Economic Growth Between 1999 and 2008

  • One of the hallmarks of Russia's growth was the boom in oil and gas exports.
  • However, the most dynamic sectors of the Russian economy were construction, retail and wholesale trade, and transport and telecommunications.
  • Market disciplines and private sector expansion massively improved the efficiency with which capital and other resources were used.

A Variety of Factors Fed into the Current Russian Recession

  • With the recent fall in oil prices, Russia's terms of trade have deteriorated.
  • A variety of structural barriers severely impede the increases in productivity needed to drive growth.
  • State control of the economy, including renationalization of business, has increased.
  • Corruption and other factors have made the business environment increasingly inhospitable.
  • Western sanctions, among other things, have reduced investor confidence and increased the cost of capital.
  • The size of the labor force has declined.

A Modest Uptick Might Occur in 2016, but Growth Will Require Addressing the Factors That Led to the Recession

  • Without major policy changes, the Russian economy will grow slowly in the medium term, even if world market prices for oil rebound sharply.
  • An aggressive program to privatize state-owned assets, clamp down on corruption, and improve the business environment should lead to substantially higher rates of growth.
  • Fully implementing the Minsk accords regarding eastern Ukraine, with a resulting elimination of many Western sanctions, could also boost GDP growth.
  • More-welcoming immigration policies would also boost growth by offsetting the declining workforce.

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Crane, Keith, Shanthi Nataraj, Patrick B. Johnston, and Gursel Rafig oglu Aliyev, Russia's Medium-Term Economic Prospects, RAND Corporation, RR-1468-RC, 2016. As of October 10, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1468.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Crane, Keith, Shanthi Nataraj, Patrick B. Johnston, and Gursel Rafig oglu Aliyev, Russia's Medium-Term Economic Prospects. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2016. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1468.html.
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Funding for this study was provided, in part, by donors and by the independent research and development provisions of RAND's contracts for the operation of its U.S. Department of Defense federally funded research and development centers. The research described in the study was conducted by the RAND Center for Russia and Eurasia (CRE).

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