The Russian Economy, Richard Connolly
The Russian Economy, Richard Connolly
List: $12.99 | Sale: $9.10
Club: $6.49

The Russian Economy
A Very Short Introduction

Author: Richard Connolly

Narrator: John Pruden

Unabridged: 3 hr 53 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 11/10/2020


Synopsis

Russia today is as prominent in international affairs as it was at the height of the Cold War. Yet the role that the economy plays in supporting Russia's position as a "great power" on the international stage is poorly understood. For many, Russia's political influence far exceeds its weight in the global economy. However, Russia is not only one of the world's most important exporters of oil and gas, but also of other natural resources, such as diamonds and gold. Its status as one of the largest wheat and grain exporters shapes commodity prices across the globe, while Russia's enormous arms industry, second only to the United States, provides it with the means to pursue an increasingly assertive foreign policy. All this means that Russia's economy is crucial in serving the country's political objectives, both within Russia and across the world.

This Very Short Introduction introduces listeners to the dimensions of the Russian economy that are often ignored by the media, or exaggerated and misunderstood. In doing so, it shows how Russia's economy is one of global significance, and helps explain why many of Russia's enduring features, such as the heavy hand of the state and the emphasis on military-industrial production, have persisted despite the immense changes that took place after the disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991.

About Richard Connolly

Richard Connolly is director of the Centre for Russian, European and Eurasian Studies (CREES) at the University of Birmingham. He is a specialist on the political economy of Russia and has published widely on Russia's energy and defense industries, Russia's role in the global economy, and on how sanctions affected Russia. Dr. Connolly has advised a wide range of governments and private-sector organizations.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Derek on March 26, 2022

This provides a wonderful overview of the Russian economy. It seems very balanced as well. I loved that it provides the reader with a good history of the Russian (and especially Soviet) economy, as well as a relatively deep dive into the current (pre-second invasion of Ukraine) situation. The book e......more

Goodreads review by Chris on August 01, 2021

This is one of the few decent surveys of Russia’s economy that I can find, that is also contemporary. The only other text I’ve encountered that covers the topic of Russia’s economy is the undergraduate textbook “Russian & Soviet Economic Performance & Structure”, by Paul Gregory and Robert Stuart. T......more

Goodreads review by Dave on March 11, 2024

I'm glad I tried that I'm not an economics guy, but this is a thin little read and I thought two things. I'd probably learn something insightful I didn't know, and that I could quit any time if it were painful. Well it wasn't painful, and I did learn quite a few things that I didn't know before I sta......more

Goodreads review by kz on January 29, 2021

I like how much the author sticks to the statistics of the Russian economy and Putin’s decisions on how to run the economy without turning it into a political bashing of one way or the other. This introduction focus mostly on the post-1991 Russian economy but touches up on some of the Soviet economi......more

Goodreads review by Grant on December 01, 2021

An excellent short overview for non-specialists. Connolly provides a short economic history of Russia through the imperial and Soviet periods, then goes on to do a fine job of explaining the development of the modern Russian economy under Yeltsin and Putin.......more