Russia's Economy Bluff: Collapse Behind the Budget

My video examines the unsustainability of Russia’s projected 2025 'defense' expenditures within its shrinking economy and limited fiscal options. Drawing on user-input data from Numbeo, the analysis demonstrates that Russia’s economic capacity has been weakened by long-term declines in real oil prices since 2008, exacerbated by international sanctions. The country’s inability to raise capital through foreign bond sales and stagnant household incomes render tax increases impractical. The video contends that Russia prioritizes military spending over infrastructure development or entrepreneurship, an economically flawed strategy.

Rather than a viable long-term commitment, this defense focus is positioned as a bluff intended to leverage negotiations on the global stage.

By analyzing Russia’s production possibilities curve (PPC), the video highlights how overextension into aggressive actions reveals a more profound economic fragility that the international community must recognize.

We want to make the world a better place, and we must start with honesty and transparency to achieve this.

[American-In-Mykolaiv]

Thanks, Mark, for your excellent reporting of Russia's economy. Waiting for the big event - USSR 2.0, waiting in the wings. Putin will be remembered in history as the silly little clown who destroyed Russia by invading Ukraine, not as the big man who reunited the old empire. Slava Ukraini!

[ianlewis]

The real 🇷🇺Russia without the smoke & mirrors.👍

[Ukrainethewin.]

It really can't happen soon enough. Thanks Mark. 🇺🇦 Slava Ukraini 🇺🇦

[dr.williams]

🇺🇦 thx Mark, excellent analysis.🇺🇦 Your dead right, the decline appears to accelerating. 3:53 Heavy use of pesticides on land contaminated with 100 years of unregulated disposal of heavy metals and industrial toxins.

[Prometheus-Unbound]

I've said it before - it's good to get an analysis that goes beyond "GDP is up Russia is doing good".

[yqwkygs]

Less than 20K subscribers? Your work is severely under-rated. Too many people only interested in cute pet videos sadly.

[KenVet]

Hello Mark. Keep fighting the good fight. Best regards and wishes, carry on Sir.

[DarkSyster]

I'm also an economist and the only part I disagree with is that Swan Lake will be on Russian TV in 2025, not 2026. I'm looking at other factors, not just the monetary economics in this prediction. The first and foremost is the collapsing infrastructure. There are flooded cities where the dams broke and are still broken. There are cities with no clean drinking water. There are cities with no electricity and no longer any central heating. There are cities where the sewage is running above ground due to collapsed pipes. And all these cities have admitted they don't have the money or the manpower to make the necessary repairs. The rail company has admitted they no longer have the manpower to maintain the rail network, never mind the money. Of the 3 largest oblasts in terms of agriculture, 2 had a late frost and the last had flooding, destroying about 1/3 to 1/2 of their crops for this year. Russia gets brutally cold winters. Russians are use to hardship. Even so, I am expecting over a million Russians to die this winter and next spring from otherwise preventable conditions resulting in the collapse of what ever is left of their economy. Part of me hopes I'm wrong because I really don't want to see that horror show, but numbers are often cold and cruel.

[frankshifreen]

Great discussion as usual Mark - Ukraine must win

[nemosthlm]

As usual very good. Greetings from Stockholm Sweden.

[FatFrankie]

*_comment offering for the algorithm gods_*

[elpuerco]

140 billion? 🤣 The budget California alone is 260 billion.

[Stabu]

Thank God Marc you're still around! I was wondering after the last 'shroom video if we would ever hear from you again :(...

[henrikrosqvist]

Thank you for this video and Slava Ukraini!

[clivedunning]

Hi Mark, the recent news that russia is exchanging chickpeas and lentils for tangerines, potatoes and rice, with Pakistan, would back up your assertions about the russian economy.
Countries only resort to barter for trade when no one will take their money.

[Red_Snapper]

The Ruble haven't been exchanged on the open market for 3 years now? It has no value.

[brucejones]

I always enjoy your views, thanks Mark!

[noneyaratman]

You are tempting me to buy a Russian bond for collectors value.

[searchingforsanity]

Golden warrior of light. You are the man!

[Boris_Badenov]

Thankx Mark, Let them know we know where they stand.