The Bank of Russia has published results of a study on the dominant economic values of citizens. According to the regulator’s findings, the ideal for a significant portion of respondents is a self-sufficient “factory-country,” modeled after the Soviet Union or modern-day China. Those surveyed emphasize state sovereignty, industrial might, and total independence from foreign markets.
Within this “nuclear economic narrative,” Russia is perceived as a country with limitless natural resources and rich human capital, which should allow it to produce all consumer goods domestically. Notably, Belarus also made the list of economic ideals, while the US economy is perceived as a “bubble of financial speculation” devoid of real production.
Demand for state regulation and the fight against “greed”
The study pays special attention to Russians’ views on inflation. Most respondents see the cause of rising prices not in monetary factors, but in “business greed” and the desire of intermediaries to “warm their hands” at the expense of others. The only effective method suggested to combat inflation is harsh administrative price regulation by the state.
Respondents insist on the need to fix the cost of basic food items, clothing, medicines, and children’s goods. According to the Central Bank, such logic reflects deep distrust of market mechanisms and a yearning for a paternalistic management model where the state assumes full responsibility for the distribution of benefits and control over private sector profitability.
Analytical summary: The rising popularity of the Soviet model signals a public disillusionment with the market economy amid sanction pressure. In 2026, this will increase public pressure on the government to freeze prices, which, if market laws are ignored, will inevitably lead to commodity shortages and a decline in product quality.