OECD Economic Surveys. Russian Federation 2009

OECD's periodic survey of the Russian economy. This 2009 edition includes chapters on stabilisation and renewed growth, growth-friendly fiscal policy, more flexible exchange rate policy and more effective monetary policy, making the banking sector more efficient and resilient, and improving regulation in goods and services markets.



Table of contents:
Executive Summary Assessment and Recommendations Chapter 1. Stabilisation and Renewed Growth: Key Challenges -The high growth rates of the past ten years were boosted by temporary factors, as the severity of the current crisis has confirmed -The main short-term challenge is minimising the extent of the economic downturn while safeguarding macroeconomic stability and fiscal sustainability -Beyond the current crisis, Russia faces a number of longer-term challenges Chapter 2. Ensuring Growth-Friendly Fiscal Policy in both the Short and the Long Term. -A golden decade of fiscal policy ended with the onset of the economic crisis -Assessing the fiscal response to the crisis -Fine tuning the treatment of oil and gas -Scope for further tax reform to raise potential growth rates -Other important reforms Chapter 3. Making Exchange Rate Policy More Flexible and Monetary Policy More Effective -The record of monetary policy during the year of rising commodity prices was mixed -The global recession and sharply falling commodity prices posed a severe policy challenge -Annex 3.A1. Inflation targeting in emerging markets and commodity exporting countries -Annex 3.A2. Econometric estimation of the empirical determinants of inflation in the Russian Federation Chapter 4. Making the Banking Sector More Efficient and Resilient -The global economic crisis has revealed weaknesses in the banking sector, but also brings opportunities -Development of the Russian banking system - gradual maturation punctuated by crises -Strengths and weaknesses of the current system -Dealing with the current crisis and reducing the probability of future ones -Achieving a deeper and more efficient banking system Chapter 5. Improving regulation in Russia's Goods and Services Markets -The OECD's PMR indicators -The extent of product market competition in Russia is generally weak -Product market competition improves economic performance -The detailed PMR indicator results and policy recommendations -Annex 5.A1. Regulation of the Russian electricity sector -Annex 5.A2. Results of the PMR assessment of the Russian Federation