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on Confederation of Independent States |
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Issue of 2017‒08‒27
nine papers chosen by |
| By: | Filip Novokmet; Thomas Piketty; Gabriel Zucman |
| Abstract: | This paper combines national accounts, survey, wealth and fiscal data (including recently released tax data on high-income taxpayers) in order to provide consistent series on the accumulation and distribution of income and wealth in Russia from the Soviet period until the present day. We find that official survey-based measures vastly under-estimate the rise of inequality since 1990. According to our benchmark estimates, top income shares are now similar to (or higher than) the levels observed in the United States. We also find that inequality has increased substantially more in Russia than in China and other ex-communist countries in Eastern Europe. We relate this finding to the specific transition strategy followed in Russia. According to our benchmark estimates, the wealth held offshore by rich Russians is about three times larger than official net foreign reserves, and is comparable in magnitude to total household financial assets held in Russia. |
| JEL: | D31 E01 E21 O52 |
| Date: | 2017–08 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23712&r=cis |
| By: | Gluschenko, Konstantin |
| Abstract: | This paper studies integration of the Moscow market for final goods with markets of all other Russian regions. It considers an aggregated market represented by a minimum food basket. The law of one price serves as a criterion of market integration. It is a base for constructing time series models of the regional costs of the staples basket over 2001–2015 relative to its cost in Moscow. Regional markets are divided into four groups: integrated with the Moscow market, conditionally integrated with it, not integrated but tending towards integration with the Moscow market, and neither integrated nor tending towards integration. Nonlinear time series models with asymptotically decaying trends describe the movement towards integration (price convergence). |
| Keywords: | market integration, law of one price; price convergence; nonlinear trend; Russian regions |
| JEL: | C32 L81 P22 R15 |
| Date: | 2017–08–21 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:80901&r=cis |
| By: | Harrison, Mark (University of Warwick) |
| Abstract: | A new estimate of the Soviet population loss in World War II, by Russian historian Igor’ Ivlev, is 42 million. This is 15-16 million more than the previous estimate of 26-27 million. The latter, by Russian demographers Andreev, Darskii, and Khar’kova, has been widely accepted for a quarter of a century. I examine the new estimate, show its place in the Soviet demographic accounts side by side with the old one, contrast their sources and methods, and find that the new figure is without foundation. The previous figure stands. On existing knowledge, the Soviet war dead were 26-27 million. |
| Keywords: | population, Soviet Union, war losses, World War II JEL Classification: J11, N44 |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cge:wacage:332&r=cis |
| By: | Anastasia Kazun (National Research University Higher School of Economics); Anton Kazun (National Research University Higher School of Economics) |
| Abstract: | December 19, 2016, saw three tragedies simultaneously, that could not go unnoticed by the Russian media: dozens of people died as a result of a surrogate alcohol poisoning in Irkutsk, a Russian ambassador was killed in Turkey, and a terrorist attack took place at the Christmas market in Berlin. In this article using the network agenda theory we analyze how these tragedies were covered by various types of mass media: on 11 federal TV channels, in 1,974 print newspapers, in 34,905 online newspapers and 2,574 blogs. We believe that direct and indirect control of the agenda by the state can be exercised by creating a network of events that will canalize correctly discussions about tragedies. We showed that ties between the tragedy and a network of other acute issues are more important than objective circumstances, such as the number of victims or a geography of the event. The context in which the events were looked at led to greater attention to the killing of the ambassador and less attention to surrogate alcohol poisoning. The Russian mass media paid significantly less attention to the Berlin terror attack, it yet was used as a supplement to the demonstration of importance of the fight against terrorism |
| Keywords: | alcohol, construction of problems, Internet, mass media, network agenda-setting, press, Putin, Russia, terrorism |
| JEL: | Z |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hig:wpaper:48/ps/2017&r=cis |
| By: | Valery Charnavoki (New Economic School) |
| Abstract: | This paper presents a general equilibrium model of a small open economy with monopolistically competitive retailers, inventories and durable goods. Following large devaluations, this model generates a collapse of imports, a fall of retail sales and inventories and a gradual increase in retail prices. Besides, the model allows to explain a short-lived spike in retail sales of durable goods, observed during the recent devaluation episode in Russia in December of 2014. |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:red:sed017:402&r=cis |
| By: | Koester, Ulrich |
| Abstract: | The EU has signed new agreements with Ukraine, Moldavia, and Ukraine, the so-called Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). This policy brief only focuses on Georgia to exemplify the mythology and some important specifics of the participating countries that differ somewhat, but are important for assessing the impact. The agreement with Georgia became effective in September 2016; therefore, accurate estimation of the quantified effects was delayed for some time. This policy brief focusses on the free trade agreement on agricultural products. Georgia benefits from trade preferences for import to the EU and the EU likewise from exports to Georgia. It is foreseen that tariffs will be abolished completely in the future, but at present it is only Georgia which has abolished tariffs for imports from the EU. The EU has only reduced the World Trade Organization (WTO) bounded rates and, in addition, it still applies the socalled entry price system and even quotas for imports of garlic. Effects on trade might be important because the EU still highly protects agricultural imports and thus the standard of living for the 50 percent of Georgians living mainly from farming may improve. The findings are that Georgia may gain in total, if traders live in Georgia. The gain results from both redirection of Georgian exports from other destinations and additional exports of Georgian products. These additional exports to the EU may be replaced by additional imports from low price suppliers on the world market. |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:iamopb:32e&r=cis |
| By: | Stukach, Victor; Volrova, Inna |
| Abstract: | . On the materials of the Siberian region problems of management of technological development of agriculture are considered. The evo-lutionary prerequisites, the reproduction process, organizational and economic problems, the institutional environment, state regulation in the sphere of technological development management are investigated. Innovative policy, resource-target approach in ensuring technological efficiency of production, assessment of technical, technological equipment, personnel potential, technological efficiency of production resources use, infrastructure of innovation market are considered. Strategic priorities, the practice of forsight research in the construction of scenarios for development in the medium and long term are proposed. |
| Keywords: | Management of technological development of agriculture, innovation policy, technological efficiency of production, strategic priorities, resources for technological development. |
| JEL: | O13 O15 O25 O31 O32 |
| Date: | 2017–02 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:79125&r=cis |
| By: | Koester, Ulrich |
| Abstract: | Die EU hat neue Abkommen mit der Ukraine, Moldawien und Georgien in Form der sogenannten Vertieften und Umfassenden Freihandelszone (DCFTA) unterzeichnet. Dieser Policy Brief konzentriert sich nur auf Georgien, um die zugrundeliegenden Annahmen bei der Wirkungsanalyse zu veranschaulichen. Da das Abkommen mit Georgien erst im September 2016 in Kraft trat, wird eine Schätzung der quantifizierten Auswirkungen noch einige Zeit auf sich warten lassen. Dieser Policy Brief analysiert einen wichtigen Bestandteil des Abkommens, nämlich das Freihandelsabkommen für Agrarprodukte. Es ist vorgesehen, dass in Zukunft vollständig auf Zölle verzichtet werden soll; bisher führt allerdings nur Georgien zollfrei aus der EU ein. Die EU hat nur die von der Welthandelsorganisation (WTO) begrenzten Sätze reduziert und wendet darüber hinaus noch das sogenannte Einfuhrpreissystem und sogar Quoten für Knoblauchimporte an. Die Auswirkungen auf den Handel könnten unter Umständen bedeutsam sein, da die EU Agrarimporte noch immer sehr stark schützt und Georgien den Lebensstandard jener 50 Prozent seiner Bevölkerung verbessern könnte, die noch immer hauptsächlich von der Landwirtschaft leben. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Georgien insgesamt profitieren könnte, wenn Händler in Georgien ansässig sind. Dabei resultiert der Gewinn nicht nur aus regionaler Umleitung georgischer Exporte, sondern auch aus Exporten georgischer Produkte, bei denen Georgien in einer Importsituation ist. Diese zusätzlichen Exporte in die EU können durch zusätzliche Importe vom Weltmarkt ersetzt werden. |
| Date: | 2017 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:iamopb:32&r=cis |
| By: | Djumashev, Ratbek; Abdullaev, Bekzod |
| Abstract: | This paper analyses whether the effect of crime on growth depends on the structural changes caused by transition. The result of the simple model suggests that when the structure of economy changes, the cost of economically motivated crime will also change; thus, affecting the impact of crime on economic performance. Using data for some of the republics of the former Soviet Union, we find support for this conjecture. |
| Keywords: | growth, crime, transition economies |
| JEL: | O17 O57 P26 P52 |
| Date: | 2017–08–17 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pra:mprapa:80842&r=cis |