logo
episode-header-image
Mar 2022
22m 43s

Oil and vodka: Russia’s resilient econom...

The Economist
About this episode

After Russia invaded Ukraine, Western businesses pulled out and governments imposed punishing sanctions. But Russia’s economy is proving surprisingly resilient. In the instalment of our French election series, we travel to Provence to better understand the campaign of the hard-right candidate Eric Zemmour, who has tapped into and stoked anti-Muslim sentiment. And why Lebanon’s plastic surgeons are thriving amid an economic mess.

For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Up next
Today
A firm Andy: what are new British PM’s plans?
Andy Burnham faces tough challenges as Britain’s new prime minister, both within his party and the country at large. Our correspondent analyses his prospects. After years of strife, how can Syria be rebuilt? And food markets have changed New York.Guests and host:Hugo Gye, Britain ... Show More
26m 19s
Jul 17
You’ve come a long way, Bibi: Israel’s crucial election
Binyamin Netanyahu’s government will, unusually, serve out its full term. What comes after October’s election will decide what kind of Israel will emerge. Our correspondent asks whether the World Cup will be remembered more for the dramas on the pitch or off it. And a tribute to ... Show More
23m 58s
Jul 16
In it to bin it: Nigel Farage v Count Binface
We take a peek into a quirk of British politics as the country’s populist-right polling leader goes up against a man who wears a bin on his head. It is more serious than it sounds. Africans tired of shoddy internet services are turning to Starlink—for a price. And our culture edi ... Show More
22m 53s
Recommended Episodes
Mar 2024
The Economic War: How Hard Are Sanctions Hitting Russia?
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it has been subject to thousands of sanctions from the West - but despite this, Russia’s economy is thriving. So how is the world’s most sanctioned country getting around them? And what does this tell us about how effectiv ... Show More
27m 4s
Sep 2025
Fortunes of war: is Russia’s economy slowing?
The collapse of Russia’s wartime economy has long been foretold, yet massive fiscal stimulus has compensated for the effect of sanctions. Though the pinch is now being felt, the labour market is surprisingly resilient. Protesters in China are getting more creative. And why car to ... Show More
23m 30s
Aug 2024
Block busters: how Russia flouts sanctions
Since the invasion of Ukraine, the West has deployed massive economic restrictions on Russian trade. So why is Russia’s economy growing? A survivor’s story from the forgotten conflict in Sudan (10:47). And Turkey tries to rid its streets of stray dogs (17:56). Listen to what matt ... Show More
23m 37s
Feb 2024
Money Talks: Is the West losing its sanctions war?
It's been two years since Russia brought war to Ukraine. America, Britain and the European Union may not have intervened by putting boots on the ground—but they have launched a massive financial counteroffensive. Vladimir Putin’s government, his cronies and the businesses profiti ... Show More
42m 42s
Feb 2022
Sanctions against Russia take bite
How the latest penalties for invading Ukraine will hit Russia, and may also spill over into the world economy.Ed Butler explores what the democratic world hopes to achieve with their targeting of the Russian Central Bank's currency reserves, as well as the exclusion of major Russ ... Show More
17m 29s
Apr 2024
The Intelligence: Bear up
In Russia inflation is under control, wages are on the up and supposedly tough sanctions have been successfully skirted. Why is the pariah economy proving so resilient? Despite the nasty rhetoric of many of its politicians, Britain has turned out to be quite good at assimilating ... Show More
25m 6s
Oct 2022
The gains in Ukraine: stalled Russia plainly wanes
<p>Ukraine’s army has <a href="https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2022/10/06/ukraine-has-made-stunning-gains-on-the-battlefield?utm_campaign=a.io&utm_medium=audio.podcast.np&utm_source=theintelligence&utm_content=discovery.content.anonymous.tr_shownotes_na-na_article&utm_te ... Show More
24m 57s