Why Is Russia’s Economy Still Growing?

The United States and G-7 announced a slate of new economic punishments against Russia, adding to existing imposed sanctions in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Yet despite it all, the Russian economy is expected to grow this year at a rate of 3.2 percent, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF)—compared to the 2.7 percent growth forecast for the United States. Russia’s relative economic success comes seemingly as the result of a decision to orient the Russian economy toward supporting the military—an intertwining that could intensify under Russia’s new defense minister, and economic intellectual, Andrei Belousov.