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