The Economy of Russia
Demography and Living Standards
Russia faces a shrinking, ageing population, regional inequality and uneven incomes.
People are the long-term constraint.
Population
Birth rates are low and the population has been falling, apart from migration.
Life expectancy
It dropped in the 1990s and has recovered only partly, especially for men.
Regions
Moscow and St Petersburg are far richer than remote regions.
Migrants
Workers from Central Asia fill many jobs.
Two Russias
A Moscow professional earns several times the wage of a worker in a small northern town.
Speaking of Russia as one uniform economy
Regional gaps are huge.
Key takeaways
- The population is ageing.
- Life expectancy lags.
- Regions differ greatly.
- Migrants fill jobs.
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