Live data from Hacker News

Russia's economy has entered the death zone

economist.com

141–150 of 245 posts

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#141
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you keep a collection of these? What for?

I'm actually in awe. I wish I had lists like these for other "hot-button" issues where the common narrative is that things are constantly on the brink of some kind of catastrophe or resolution. Really puts things into perspective.

i recommend writing prompts for Gemini / ChatGPT along the lines of "as a history professor put X in perspective. Compare the evidence for / against. Be sure to include grounding on each fact ..."

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#142
post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Do you keep a collection of these? What for?

Probably organized propaganda or fanatical support of Russia. My bet is on the former.

I'm guessing you mean the publications. Certainly not me.

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it seems like that’s the propaganda. The free speech democratic West, instead of reporting about the objective truth, tells us half truths for their own benefit.

No. 1. News outlets look to sell stories - and so catchy headlines. Real value is optional. 2. I expect you could find a range of contrary views over the same time. I've read good analysis saying economy will just keep going. 3. Try going to Russia and see what you find in the way of half-truths or free speech.

I would call this a very cynical and pessimistic assessment of journalism. It holds them to the lowest possible quality standard.

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, it seems like that’s the propaganda. The free speech democratic West, instead of reporting about the objective truth, tells us half truths for their own benefit.

Western news resources aren’t controlled by government, unlike Russia. So they have incentive to post what generates clicks, not necessarily what reflects reality.

if they published anything for clicks they would have immediately published the Hunter Biden laptop story. The most salacious click-baity story in 20+ years and it was shelved. There's more to influence than "money"

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#145
post #7

Déjà vu … Since Crimea Invasion Russia’s Economy Is On the Brink of Collapse" – CNN Business, December 2014. "The End of the Putin Era? Russia’s Economy Is Tanking" – Newsweek, December 2014. "Russia Heading for Economic 'Colossal Collapse'" – BBC News (quoting Alexei Kudrin), December 2014. "How the Oil Price Collapse Could Topple Putin" – The Guardian, 2015. "Russia’s Economy Is a Mess" – The Atlantic, February 201…

https://tradingeconomics.com/russia/gdp-growth-annual It does look like the war is taking it's toll, though. It is said that the annual growth in GDP is expected to be negative for 2026.

They are killing off their last and best generation of men, so yes the economy will suffer. I'm not questioning that part -- it's the repeated "russia will collapse any minute" propaganda, going on for 12+ years, that is very easy to see through.

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

USSR vs 2026 Russia is apples and oranges. USSR: kicked their educated jews out (twice -- pogroms & doctors plot), kicked most of their educated gentiles out in 1917, used up their remaining human capital as cannon fodder against hitler. Everything USSR had was gifted from the west to keep the west's military-industrial grift running (see Antony Sutton's works for details). They were a boogeyman used by western elite…

Aside from some factual errors, that's one way to look on things. Another one is that USSR's political top, however incompetent, released their personal fates are tied to their country, while the modern ones plan for a retirement elsewhere (or at least did so before SHTF in 2022). > USSR: kicked their educated jews out (twice -- pogroms & doctors plot) Sorry, that's not how it happen (source: my grandfather being a U…

> Pogroms were before USSR

I know. Beside the point. The point is that 20th c. Russia/USSR's human capital had been obliterated.

> Russia already got damn nukes.

Old technology. Suicide. West has better weapons, like twitter (arab spring), autonomous drones, and whatever sonic/microwave mystery we used in Venezuela. Russia is behind.

> Looted as in being sent food aid?

Looted as in having state bureaucrats sell national assets to western corporations for pennies on the dollar, then buying soccer clubs in UK with their ill-gotten gains, as Russia's peasants starve and their birth rate collapses.

> The problem is damn invading neighborhood country.

NATO wants to put missiles on their doorstep. How would any other country respond? We would have glassed Cuba if Khrushchev hadn't taken his missiles back. US state department had been plotting the Zelensky revolution / Russia war since the Obama administration.

I am not a tankie. I am disgusted. We are skirting WWIII to prop-up the boomer pension ponzi scheme. We started shit in Ukraine (yes, WE started it) because the Russians were selling oil to Europe, diminishing the petrodollar in the process. It's also why we've kicked people's shit in from Afghanistan to Syria to Libya to Ukraine. Doesn't matter who you voted for, (D) or (R), the child molester uniparty was going to start that war regardless.

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#147
post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Situation in EU is worse than Russia? In what way?

Russia has 2.2% unemployment Germany has 6.3% Spain 9.9% France 7.9% All while having millions of foreigners/immigrants to support.

Based on the article, I assume Russian employment is in the military complex?

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#148
post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is probably true, but if they are selling at a loss, it can only go on for so long.

Ukraine might have less time than Russia does. Russia only has to survive 1 day more.

Every day that passes, Ukraine gets stronger: more domestic defense production of what's currently the cutting edge of warfare; deeper financial integration and relationships with Europe; more aid lined up; European powers taking more responsibility for supporting Ukraine and seeing it win, not just survive. They have the largest and most competent army in Europe that's fought Russia to a standstill.

Every day that passes, Russia gets weaker: more oil sold in crude form only, since they don't have refining capacity to export gasoline; foreign currency reserves shrinking, since China is their main customer; another 35k casualties every month, with mounting costs for enlistment bonuses and death benefits; outer provinces stripped of men of fighting age, North Korea unwilling to send more soldiers, African recruits drying up; inflation raging, industries shutting down, and all economic indicators heading south.

It's terrible that Ukraine is trapped in this slugfest, but at this point, time favours Ukraine.

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#149
post #131

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Situation in EU is worse than Russia? In what way?

Russia has 2.2% unemployment Germany has 6.3% Spain 9.9% France 7.9% All while having millions of foreigners/immigrants to support.

Russian unemployment of 2.2% is a bad sign, not a good sign.

For practical purposes, unemployment around 4% means full employment, because there's always a portion of the population not working for some reason: taking time off, too dumb, don't want to work, unable to for reasons of temperment or psychological health, etc. At 4% (as the US has often been in the last few decades) it's really difficult to fill menial roles or unskilled factory jobs with people who know their ass from a hole in the ground.

Russia at 2.2% means many needed positions are going unfulfilled, crippling productivity and planning. It's a sign that the manpower needs of the war are draining productive workers, slowing their own economy at a time when they need more productivity to overcome sanctions and other economic effects.

Re: Russia's economy has entered the death zone

#150

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> After all, Putin's stated long-term goal is to take the entire country (among others) and restore the USSR. This was never a stated goal.

> "I have said many times that the Russian and Ukrainian people are one nation, in fact. In this sense, all of Ukraine is ours [...] But you know we have an old parable, an old rule: wherever a Russian soldier steps, it is ours." https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2025/6/27/putin-confirms-...

I’m well aware of this quote. It does not imply that there was at any moment of time a goal to seize the entire Ukraine or to restore USSR.
Post reply on HN