Category: Analysis

Small towns have been recognized as pillars of spatial development, but their resilience remains fragile and uneven. Without systemic support, they risk being trapped between stagnation and isolated pockets of growth.

Remittances reached $656 billion in 2023, but dependence on migrant transfers hampers development. An analysis of the risks, Russia's role in Central Asia, and strategies for converting transfers into investment.

The microfinance market generated a record 67 billion rubles in profit, yet half of all MFOs are operating at a loss. An analysis of market polarization, the surge in online lending through marketplaces, and regulatory risks looming in 2026.

Why are more and more people turning to pawnshops, what legal nuances should be considered, and how will this sector develop in the coming years?

Hungary heads to the polls in two weeks in an election that will determine not only the country's political direction but its economic future as well. Let's examine the economic landscape Hungary brings to this moment and what could change.

The Middle East conflict has triggered a 30-40% spike in fertilizer prices. How the Strait of Hormuz blockade is affecting the global planting season, farmers, and Russia's agricultural sector—analysis and forecasts.

In 2025, the Central Bank recorded a loss of 184.8 billion rubles, compared to record profits of 199.5 billion rubles the previous year. We examine the reasons behind this reversal.

Analysis of LUKOIL's 2025 financial results: net loss of 1.059 trillion rubles, asset write-downs of 1.667 trillion rubles, impact of U.S. sanctions, and the loss of European refineries. How the company's business model is changing.

Nearly 30,000 Russians have signed social contracts since the beginning of the year. We examine what this support measure is, how it works, and whether it can actually help increase income.

OSAGO in Russia is formally a unified system, but in practice some regions effectively foot the bill for accidents, fraud, and legal disputes in others. What causes this imbalance, and who ultimately pays for loss-making territories?

Aluminum has surged to $3,300 per ton amid the Strait of Hormuz blockade. How the Middle East conflict is impacting the global metal market, why Europe is in crisis, and what Russia stands to gain from rising prices.

How China fights corruption: statistics from the 2025 anti-corruption campaign, punishments for 983,000 officials, the Corruption Perceptions Index, and systemic limitations of the Chinese model.