Ilya Matveev @IlyaMatveev_
I have collected some thoughts on the immediate impact of sanctions on the Russian economy (a long 🧵). TL; DR: 30 years of economic development thrown into the bin. (1/16)
An obvious starting point: Russia is highly integrated into the global economy. Its share of imports to GDP (20,5%) is the highest in the BRIC group (19% in India, 16% in China, 15,5% in Brazil). (2/16)
By targeting Russia’s reserves denominated in euros and dollars and blocking access to paper currency, the West severely restricted Russia’s ability to import goods from the EU and the US. (3/16)
The EU is Russia’s biggest trading partner, accounting for 36,5% of its imports. Another 5,4% come from the US. Russia can still pay for its imports with currency that comes from current exports, however, this currency is also needed to stop the freefall of the ruble. (4/16)
Overall, financial sanctions dramatically limit Russia’s capacity to import goods. Furthermore, exports are bound to fall too. The US has already stopped importing Russian oil. The EU is still buying oil and gas from Russia, but for how long and at what volumes? (5/16)
Sanctions by logistical companies such as Maersk, excluding Russian banks from SWIFT and cutting other options for international financial transactions further restrict imports. Finally, many Western companies simply stopped exporting goods and services to Russia. (6/16)
The Russian economy is no different from any other modern economy in a sense that it is integrated in complex global supply chains. Logistics works on the just-in-time principle (so the stockpiles of foreign-produced components are very limited). (7/16)
Restrictions on imports will destroy Russian productive capacity in most spheres. Many factories (even those that are Russian-owned) stopped production because they lack foreign components. (8/16)
They might retain the workforce, waiting for the renewal of imports, but if this doesn’t happen in a few weeks or months, dramatic spike in unemployment is guaranteed. In addition, some of Russia’s productive capacity is directly organized by foreign capital. (9/16)
The number of employees in foreign and mixed-ownership firms in Russia is 5 million (some 10% of the workforce in formal employment). Many of these companies are currently suspending activities or leaving Russia altogether, leading to the severe crisis of unemployment. (10/16)
Of course, because of economic linkages, unemployment will be cascading further and further.
All in all, no other economy in the world has experienced anything like this – extreme de-globalization in a matter of days. (11/16)
It is impossible to adapt to this situation. Nationalizations of Western companies, even if they happen, do not guarantee that the new managers would be able to resume production. (12/16)
Trade with China and other countries cannot replace trade with the West: 1) The volume is simply too high; 2) The quality of Chinese goods and components is uneven and unreliable; 3) Knowing that it can hold Russia hostage, China will offer highly unfavorable trade terms. (13/16)
This is worse than Iran and Cuba (for the simple reason that Russia is a bigger economy and de-globalization happened at a much more globalized stage of its development). (14/16)
The damage that is already done is extreme, but if the situation goes on for, say, a year, I predict 30% drop in GDP, 20-30% drop in employment and the elimination of at least half of the middle class. (15/16)
Hunger might be avoided by controlling prices on essential food items, but overall, this is misery and destitution that rivals and surpasses the early 1990s. (16/16)
NOW put this into context with this tweet:
Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr
I see comment on that Putin speech as if it's about oligarchs in West. I think that misses the point. The real audience is westernised middle-class Russians in Russia. He's threatening them. He is casting them as 21st C kulaks - bourgeois liberal scum. National Bolshevism.
Peter @Peterdennehy67
But what’s he threatening them with?
Rafael Behr @rafaelbehr
Repression if they show dissent. Maybe punitive redistribution of assets down the line in economic crisis. 'Hey, this guy owns two apartments, probably likes foie gras, fancies himself as a different caste ..' etc.
The unrest of the middle class is a threat. Putin must switch to terror to keep control. Likewise in occupied Ukrainian Cities and Towns.
Divide and rule at its finest. Complain and I will set the mob on you. Thus keeping power for the elite.
Incidentally, reading through the comments on how Russia counters this we've got the following:
- the new monetary system between EAEU/China. (will take time to set up)
- Russian gold (that they can't flog fast enough or get a good price for)
- switching from a petrodollar monopoly to one where the Chinese Yuan is also valued (again not going to happen quick enough).
- wheat export ban. This is partly needed to exactly keep feeding the country (90% of potato seeds are imported so thats going to be an issue) but also puts leverage on rest of the world v those forcing sanctions by bully boy tactics. Your choice is starve or help me.
The first three will have no effect in the short or probably even medium term.
The fourth is the most immediate. But still some months off.
The collapse of the Russian economy starts at pace and on scale within a month.
The order and speed these things happen, matters.
Putin must take control of the Russian public fast...