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The salary gap between managers and ordinary employees in Russia is narrowing: employers are increasingly willing to pay more to specialists who are harder to find and replace. Ivan Ermokhin, researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department, told RBC about this situation.

Kirill Chernovol, a researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department, assessed in comments to RBC how restrictions on taking cash rubles abroad might affect the Russian currency's exchange rate.

New restrictions on the export of ruble cash are primarily aimed at tightening control over the cross-border movement of funds and may affect most heavily small businesses that rely on cash settlements with foreign partners. Antonina Levashenko, Head of the International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, told about this situation to RTVI.

The Russian authorities have abandoned the plan to gradually increase VAT on foreign goods which Russians order through marketplaces and have proposed the rate of 22% to be applied immediately. Kirill Chernovol, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department, spoke to Forbes about the consequences of this measure.

Rosstat estimated the size of Russia's non-observed economy at 10.9% of GDP by the end of 2024. Of this, 2.6% of GDP accounts for shadow operations of companies, and another 8.3% for the informal sector and households’ production. Sergey Drobyshevsky, Principal Researcher at the Gaidar Institute, explained what is behind these figures.

The Ministry of Economic Development has updated its baseline scenario for Russian economic development through 2029 and significantly worsened its investment forecast. Evgeny Goryunov, Head of the Monetary Policy Department at the Gaidar Institute, explained in a commentary to Forbes, why the decline in investment should not yet be seen as a sign of economic overcooling.

Anastasia Levchenko, researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s Industrial Organization and Infrastructure Economics Department spoke to the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily about the factors behind rising global diesel prices, the impact of the shortages on the Russian market and the prospects for a resumption of oil supplies from Persian Gulf countries.

Maria Girich, researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department told News.ru how the procedure for receiving the one-time payment of Rb1 mn -- awarded to women with the "Mother Heroine" title -- might change.

Tatyana Ivakhnenko, researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s Mathematical Modeling of Economic Processes Department explained to the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily why the earnings gap between men and women persists.

The high rejection rate for POS loans is primarily related to stricter requirements regarding the assessment of borrowers' income and debt burden. Kirill Chernovol, researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department discussed this issue with the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily.

Alexey Vedev, leading researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s Financial Sector Department, assessed economic growth outlook, the state of the budget and the dynamics of non-oil and gas revenues in comments to “Svobodnaya Pressa”.

In the coming years, Russia may tighten controls over the trade and processing of precious metals. This involves digital tracking, verifying the origin of raw materials, and developing waste recycling. Antonina Antonina Levashenko, Head of the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department, told Nezavisimaya Gazeta.

Iran proposes creating an independent financial corridor within BRICS and integrating national payment systems. In this regard, countries agreed on Iran's accession to the BRICS New Development Bank.

Families of the SMO participants must now receive the same basic set of social guarantees regardless of their region of residence. Olga Soldatkina, Researcher of the International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, told the NEWS.ru about the measures included on this list and on the way to obtain them.

Starting January 1, 2027, government agencies will receive more data on pricing for socially important foods. Antonina Levashenko, Head of the International Best Practices Analysis Department at the Gaidar Institute, spoke to NEWS.ru about the work of a new mechanism and whether it will directly impact food prices.

In 2027, insurance pensions in Russia will be indexed twice — in February and April. However, the figures included in the budget may be revised to account for actual inflation. News.ru was told this by Ivan Ermokhin, Researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department.