Tatyana Ivakhnenko, Researcher at Mathematical Modeling of Economic Processes Department at the Gaidar Institute, commenting for RBC on the SberIndex study on the level of inequality in the consumption of Russian citizens, noted that its decline can be observed even if income inequality remains unchanged.
"The dynamics of consumption is linked to the dynamics of income and the trends described in the SberIndex study can serve as an indicator of a decrease in income inequality. However, it is necessary to take into account other factors that may explain the decline in consumption inequality.
In addition, financial literacy can play a significant role. Urban population can use a wider range of financial instruments compared to rural population. In an environment of high interest rates, more financially literate, as well as richer segments of the population have more incentives to save, which may be reflected in the slowdown in the dynamics of consumer spending in large cities", said the expert.