Political risk impacts investment into Russia

Foreign direct investment is paltry and capital continues to flow out of Russia, as an election approaches. Read a report from Emerging Markets newspaper here.

Economic foundations of Lukashenko's Belarus tremble

The regime will struggle to resolve the currency crisis in Minsk, which is compounded by pressure from Moscow. Read more here.

SE Asia farmers ‘need climate change measures now’

Development institutions need to help south east Asian farmers adapt to the impacts of climate change now, researchers are warning. Published in Emerging Markets here.

Nord Stream threatens Ukraine’s share of transit while domestic production slows

Published in Gas Matters, April 2011

Ukraine’s share of Russian gas transit to Europe remains under threat mid- to long-term, despite a promise by Gazprom to raise transit volumes via Ukraine to 112 bcm/year for five years. Ukraine’s talks about the transit network’s future, with Russia on one hand and European institutions on the other, are dragging on inconclusively. Meanwhile efforts to raise domestic production, and streamline consumption, move forward slowly. Full article here

Russia's modernization means conquering oil dependence

I reviewed discussion among economists about the Russian economy's prospects in the global recovery here http://www.emergingmarkets.org/Article/2682714/Europe/RUSSIAN-ECONOMY-Russias-oil-problem.html

Imposing an austerity package on Ukraine may not be easy

The IMF has signed up a new loan programme with the government, but pushing through cuts that undermine living standards will be hard, I argued in a feature article in Emerging Markets newspaper here http://www.emergingmarkets.org/Article/2690747/Europe/UKRAINE-Tough-love.html

Russia-Ukraine gas troubles are not over yet

The gas agreements signed between Moscow and Kiev in April are full of "fault lines" that could open again soon, my colleagues Jonathan Stern and Katja Yafimava and I argue in a new paper, The April 2010 Russo-Ukrainian gas agreement and its implications for Europe. It's free to download here: http://www.oxfordenergy.org/pdfs/NG42.pdf

Modernising Russia's economy

It's easier said than done. Emerging Markets newspaper, 14 May 2010. http://www.emergingmarkets.org/article.asp?PositionID=search&ArticleID=2487832

Kyrgyz government struggles for stability

Constitutional changes in question. Emerging Markets newspaper, 13 May 2010. http://www.emergingmarkets.org/article.asp?PositionID=search&ArticleID=2486874

China sets the pace in central Asia

Economically, Russia is on the back foot. Emerging Markets newspaper, 2 May 2010. http://www.emergingmarkets.org/article.asp?PositionID=search&ArticleID=2478245

The impact of the economic crisis on Russian and CIS gas markets

Published in November 2009 by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Download here: http://www.oxfordenergy.org/pdfs/NG36.pdf

The Russo-Ukrainian gas dispute of January 2009

The Oxford Institute for Energy Studies published this comprehensive assessment of the dispute, which I wrote together with my colleagues Jonathan Stern and Katja Yafimava, in February 2009. It is downloadable here: http://www.oxfordenergy.org/pdfs/NG27.pdf