Spending, spending, spending

Hello! Welcome to your weekly guide to the Russian economy, written by Alexandra Prokopenko and Alexander Kolyandr and brought to you by The Bell. This week, our top story is about why Russian spending levels remain high even as the economic slowdown gathers pace. We also look at why recent ruble gains are unsustainable. 

Why does the Kremlin keep spending despite a slowing economy?

Despite slowing economic growth, Russia has shown no sign of reducing spending. What does this counter-cyclical policy tell us about Russia’s financial health, and the priorities of those in government?