economics

3 Posts

•

0 Followers

Analysis

Datablog | Georgians are becoming wearier of economic ties to Russia

by Elene Ergeshidze

•3 min read

Georgia’s economic relations with Russia have been a point of contention for years; but how far has the war in Ukraine swayed public opinion? Imports to Georgia from Russia have been on the rise since 2011, and exports since 2013. As of 2021, 14% of Georgia’s exports went to Russia and 10% of Georgia’s imports came from Russia. But when looking at the recent past, there are clear indications that such economic reliance on Russia can be problematic. The ban on trade in 2006 and suspension of f

Armenia

A strong dram and rising inflation leave Armenians in a bind

by Ani Avetisyan

•4 min read

Following Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine, a strong dram has hurt Armenian exporters while inflation has continued to skyrocket — delivering a double helping of economic misery to Armenians. A small shop near the Yerevan–Gyumri highway serves the local community of Agarak and travellers coming to and from Yerevan. Despite the recent economic downturn in Armenia and the world, the shop has maintained almost the same profits as before. Gevorg Karapetyan, the owner, says that people still spend the

Riot police use water canon to disperse demonstrators during a protest against the government. Photo: Mari Nikuradze/OC Media

Bidzina Ivanishvili

Opinion | Georgia's neoliberal agony

by Mate Gabitsinashvili

•5 min read

In Georgia, the state has given up on development. Neoliberalism is exhausted — there’s nothing left to sell or deregulate. Georgia is bracing for parliamentary elections in 2020 – and the country is already now in crisis mode. While Georgia’s political party landscape suffers from extreme polarization, the conflicts are not about ideological differences, let alone the development agenda for the country. The popularity of the ruling party ‘Georgian Dream’ is dropping, but there is no sign o