Comments

Antonina Levashenko, Head of International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, commented on the sharp fluctuations in the precious and industrial metals markets for Nezavisimaya Gazeta. The expert explained the current situation as being due to a combination of factors.

Olga Ponomareva and Maria Girich, experts at the Gaidar Institute, explained in comments for RIA Novosti how the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) celebrations on February 17 could affect delivery times for goods from the AliExpress marketplace.

Kirill Chernovol, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute's International Best Practices Analysis Department, commented for RBC on the faster growth in freelancers' incomes compared to the salaries of full-time employees.

On Moscow 24 Kirill Chernovol, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute, commented on the State Duma deputies' proposal to introduce mandatory wage indexation in the commercial sector in line with inflation.

Olga Ponomareva, expert at the Economic Policy Foundation, explained China's strategic goals and benefits from the internationalization of the yuan, as well as the constraints that exist along this path, in a commentary for Izvestia.

Alexander Knobel, Senior Researcher of the International Trade Department at the Gaidar Institute, commented on the recently published statements by Chinese President Xi Jinping about the need to transform the yuan into a "strong currency" of global significance. According to the expert, the Chinese currency already serves as a reserve currency in line with the ambitious goals of the Chinese leadership.

Dmitry Kuznetsov, expert at the Gaidar Institute, and Olga Ponomareva, expert at the Economic Policy Foundation, in a commentary for RBC assessed the impacts of the large-scale trade agreement between the EU and India, noting its potential benefits for Russia

Nezavisimaya Gazeta reviewed a study by Antonina Levashenko and Sergey Sinelnikov-Murylev, researchers at the Gaidar Institute, on the current challenges of the digital economy in the field of personal data. The article “Personal Data: Economic Problems and Legal Regulation” was published in Economic Policy journal. Commenting on the study, Olga Magomedova, researcher at the Gaidar Institute's International Best Practices Analysis Department, confirmed that the increase in data leaks caused by remote work is a global trend

With gold prices hitting record high, Kirill Chernovol, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute's International Best Practices Analysis Department, urged investors to be cautious and have a clear understanding of their goals in a comment to Izvestia.

Antonina Levashenko, Head of International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, commented on the possibility of creating a payment infrastructure in Russia, particularly for the gambling market, during the January 28, 2025, episode of the Day. Main program on RBC. She noted that the technical basis for the legal segment already exists, but the key challenge comes from offshore online casinos, whose operations remain outside the purview of regulatory authorities due to two systemic problems.

Experts from the Gaidar Institute Vladimir Sedalishchev, Alexander Firanchuk, and Dmitry Kuznetsov commented for Izvestia on the significant increase in Russian imports of cattle meat from India.

Olga Magomedova, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute's International Best Practices Analysis Department, assessed the prospects for changes in drug prices in 2026 in a comment for RTVI. According to her, one of the factors driving growth will be changes in the taxation of supply chain participants, which will increase costs for end consumers.

Antonina Levashenko, Head of International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, stated in a comment for TASS that Slovakia and Hungary will not be able to find a replacement for Russian gas in the year and a half remaining before the EU's complete ban on its supply comes into force.

In a commentary for RBC, Kirill Chernovol, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute's International Best Practices Analysis Department, assessed wage dynamics in Russia for 2026. According to his forecast, real income growth will continue but will be more moderate compared to 2023–2025.

Evgeny Goryunov, Head of Monetary Policy Department at the Gaidar Institute, commented for RBC on the stability of the Russian budget and the National Wealth Fund (NWF) amid low oil prices.

Yuri Pleskachev, Senior Researcher at Quantitative Analysis and Economic Effects Department of the Gaidar Institute, presented an analysis of the causes of per capita income disparities across countries. He emphasized the role of institutions as a backbone factor that largely determines the depth and persistence of these gaps.