DOI: 10.32609/j.ruje.11.145962

Authors: Luka Bašić

Abstract: This paper applies a macroeconometric approach to analyze structural shocks and their impact on the key transmission channels of monetary policy in Russia, focusing on the period since the imposition of sanctions and the monetary regime shift beginning in 2014. The approach combines the Lee–Strazicich LM test, used to identify structural breaks, with a Bayesian VAR model that estimates the posterior distribution of shock effects and responses. The model is further extended by dummy variables indicating the periods of imposed sanctions in 2014, the change in the Bank of Russia’s monetary policy in 2015, and the Russia–Ukraine conflict in 2022. The findings indicate that the interest rate transmission channel operates in a fully asymmetric manner: the short run is characterized by the monetary policy shift, and the long run — by the conflict in Ukraine, suggesting the implementation of an expansionary and later highly restrictive policy with a temporary dual approach. The credit and exchange rate transmission channels are identified as the two most important stabilization mechanisms for macroeconomic shocks, with the 2015 regime change significantly enhancing the absorption of exogenous shocks. In contrast, the extended price transmission channel exhibits a more moderate capacity for shock absorption, underscoring the Bank of Russia’s success in anchoring inflation expectations. Overall, the findings confirm that proactive monetary policy shapes inflation expectations effectively by employing two main tools: managing the key interest rate to control inflationary pressures and managing the ruble exchange rate to stabilize the economy.

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DOI: 10.32609/j.ruje.11.144107

Authors: Maria S. Lymar, Henry I. Penikas

Abstract: The objective of the current work is to estimate to what extent support measures of the Bank of Russia and the Government of the Russian Federation promoted financial stability of banks and the financial market overall so to sustain lending economy-wide during the crisis periods of 2014, 2020, and 2022. These measures mutually assured the financial stability of the institutions and enabled them to extend lending within the economy for RUB 8 trillion in 2022 (~$100 billion, or 8%+ of the total loan book), of which Bank of Russia measures contributed to RUB 4.3 trillion of the total, the Government of Russia — to RUB 2.0 trillion, while the synergy was RUB 1.7 trillion.

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DOI: 10.32609/j.ruje.10.128666

Authors: Shweta Sikhwal

Abstract: This paper quantifies the spillover effects of economic policy uncertainty (EPU) in the United States on emerging market economies (EMEs). Using a generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation of a panel vector autoregression (PVAR) model on a dataset of 39 EMEs from 2005 to 2019, we find that increased U.S. EPU significantly raises the consumer price index (CPI) and negatively impacts the real GDP of these economies. Additionally, heightened U.S. EPU leads to a depreciation of emerging market currencies and a reduction in short-term interest rates. We employ a news-based EPU index developed by Baker et al. (2016) and conduct robustness checks using forward orthogonal transformation, an alternative EPU index, and by addressing the potential endogeneity of the oil price uncertainty (OPU) index. Our findings highlight the adverse effects of U.S. economic policy uncertainty on key macroeconomic variables in emerging markets, underscoring the importance of stable economic policies and robust institutions to mitigate these impacts.

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DOI: 10.32609/j.ruje.9.111967

Authors: Eugene L. Goryunov, Sergey M. Drobyshevsky, Alexey L. Kudrin, Pavel V. Trunin

Abstract: The paper examines the factors of global inflation acceleration in 2021–2022. We consider primarily the developed economies, where rates of inflation over the last two years have exceeded multi-year highs and have significantly exceeded target levels. We find that the cause of accelerating inflation was an imbalance between aggregate demand, which started to increase rapidly in the second half of 2020 as economies began to adapt to the circumstances of the pandemic, and aggregate supply, which encountered persistent constraints associated with interruptions in global supply chains. Significant support for demand was provided by fiscal stimulus that was unprecedented in scale and was accompanied by policy interest rates reaching extremely low levels, and by active injections of liquidity by central banks. The willingness of governments to implement ultra-expansionary monetary and fiscal policies can to a considerable degree be attributed to the fact that during the previous decade large budget deficits, zero interest rates, and programs of quantitative easing had not resulted in macroeconomic destabilization. We examine the view of many central banks that the inflationary wave would not be long-lasting, which was a crucial reason for delaying the interest rates increase. We consider the conditions in which the leading economies might fall into the stagflation trap.

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DOI: 10.32609/j.ruje.8.89717

Authors: Shweta Sikhwal

Abstract: We examine, using a monthly dataset from 2007 to 2020, the US interest rate shocks’ effects on exchange rates, broad money aggregates, and foreign exchange reserves in emerging market economies (EMEs) post global financial crisis. To evaluate the impact of unconventional monetary policy initiatives, we employ Wu-Xia’s shadow interest rates. There are two parts to the methodology. The first part focuses on the identification of the unanticipated US interest rate shock in a SVAR model. In the second part, we incorporate the US interest rate shock into the panel structural VAR to analyze its impact on 29 countries from various regions. A positive shock to US interest rates depreciates the exchange rate of EMEs against the US dollar. According to our findings, it results in a decline in the broad money aggregate and foreign exchange reserves. The findings are consistent across multiple EME regions.

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DOI: 10.32609/j.ruje.8.90947

Authors: Marek Dabrowski

Abstract: The paper contains a retrospective analysis of macroeconomic policy and reforms in the countries of the former Soviet Union (FSU) from 1992 to 2021, after obtaining political and economic independence in 1991. Special attention is given to problems of macroeconomic stabilization and economic growth. As a result of structural distortions inherited from the Soviet economy and the slow pace of economic and institutional reforms, the FSU countries suffered from a long and deep output decline in the 1990s. Their post-transition growth recovery in the 2000s did not last long. Furthermore, they remain vulnerable to both domestic and external economic shocks. Given the limited predictability of post-COVID global economic trends and the damaging consequences of the war in Ukraine, this vulnerability will likely continue in the next couple of years.

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DOI: 10.32609/j.ruje.5.49417

Authors: Marek Dabrowski

Abstract: In the decade of the 2010s, the pace of economic growth in Russia slowed down to an annual rate of below 2% and most forecasts suggest that this is will be the new “normal” for the Russian economy at least in the medium-term. While politically and socially disappointing, such a growth slowdown is unavoidable due to adverse demographic trends. A combination of a shrinking working-age population and population aging must lead to a lower growth pace as compared to the period when the working-age population was still increasing and the effects of population aging were limited (the decade of the 2000s). Compensatory measures such as a gradual increase in the retirement age and an open labor migration policy, although economically positive, can only partly mitigate the negative effects of a shrinking domestic labor force. In this respect, Russia does not differ from other European countries and some Asian countries. However, demography and shrinking labor supply cannot fully explain low potential growth. Stagnation in total factor productivity is another reason. It results from a poor business and investment climate, difficulty in diversifying away from the dominant role of the hydrocarbon sector, and deteriorating political and economic relations with the US and EU which limit trade, investment and innovation opportunities. To increase its potential growth, Russia needs comprehensive economic and institutional reforms that, in turn, will be conditioned by political reforms and by improved economic and political relationships with the US, the EU and Russia’s neighbors.

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DOI: 10.32609/j.ruje.5.38703

Authors: Olga Kuznetsova, Sergey Merzlyakov, Sergey Pekarski

Abstract: The global financial crisis of 2007–2009 has changed the landscape for monetary policy. Many central banks in developed economies had to employ various unconventional policy tools to overcome a liquidity trap. These included large-scale asset purchase programs, forward guidance and negative interest rate policies. While recently, some central banks were able to return to conventional monetary policy, for many countries the effectiveness of unconventional policies remains an issue. In this paper we assess diverse practices of unconventional monetary policy with a particular focus on expectations and time consistency. The principal aspect of successful policy in terms of overcoming a liquidity trap is the confidence that interest rates will remain low for a prolonged period. However, forming such expectations faces the problem of time inconsistency of optimal policy. We discuss some directions to solve this problem.

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DOI: 10.1016/j.ruje.2016.08.002

Authors: Marek Dabrowski

Abstract: Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, its successor states have suffered from cyclical currency crises. The most recent episode of 2014–2016 was caused by a combination of external and domestic factors. The former include tighter US monetary policy, slower global growth, and declining commodity prices, whereas the latter include the former Soviet Union (FSU) economies’ extreme macroeconomic fragility (a legacy of past crises), numerous microeconomic rigidities and structural distortions in addition to governmental deficits. In addition, the Russian–Ukraine conflict dealt a heavy blow to both economies and their neighbors. Effective anti-crisis policies must aim at eliminating all deep-rooted causes of repeated financial and macroeconomic turbulence and must involve deep structural and institutional reforms in the entire region.

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DOI: 10.1016/j.ruje.2016.09.001

Authors: Andrey Sinyakov, Ksenia Yudaeva

Abstract: In this paper, we analyze a number of monetary and FX policy alternatives using the model of a small open oil-exporting economy hit by severe balance-of-payment shocks, such as those that simultaneously affected the Russian economy in 2014–2015. For our purposes, we modify Romer's (2013) IS-MP general equilibrium model by adding a structure similar to the Russian economy (tradables and oil vs. non-tradables). In the model, we consider an optimal policy mix that includes a floating exchange rate, FX liquidity provision by a central bank and temporary tightening of monetary policy. The flexible exchange rate works as a shock absorber, helping restore aggregate demand and domestic production. If inflation expectations are not anchored, contractionary monetary policy helps to stabilize them. Financial stability risks are addressed by lending FX liquidity to the banking sector.

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