Category: Analysis

How telemedicine in Russia grew from 8% to 22% user adoption over five years. Why online consultations aren't reducing voluntary health insurance costs and which legislative restrictions are holding the market back. Data from VTsIOM and expert opinions.

At a meeting with Sverdlovsk Governor Denis Pasler in Minsk on May 18, Alexander Lukashenko proposed to "lend a shoulder" to Russian oil refining through two modernized Belarusian refineries. The channel has actually been operating for two years, but its capacity amounts to roughly 1% of Russia's monthly gasoline consumption.

Online drug sales in Russia reached 367 billion rubles, but are approaching a growth ceiling. Why the prescription drug experiment failed and where pharmacy e-commerce is headed.

Poland's LOT is suing Boeing for concealing 737 MAX problems, yet continues buying these aircraft. We examine the paradox of duopoly in aviation, where alternatives don't exist and delivery queues stretch a decade out.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has backed the introduction of a 22% VAT on foreign online orders starting January 1, 2027—with no phase-in period. Officially, the measure aims to create a "level playing field" for Russian and foreign sellers. In reality, it amounts to hidden protectionism.

Russia reinstated its fuel damper zeroing mechanism on May 1. With the moratorium now over, the government is shifting focus from budget support for oil companies to alternative methods of stabilizing the domestic fuel market.

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.