Consumer goods shortage in Russia

What kind of products are missing or difficult to acquire in Russia that yourself or others have wanted to purchase before? I know this is a weird question but any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Garrott


Dear Garrot!

Thank you for your question. Well, your question evoked so many childhood memories that it will be a lie to say that I want to forget those times.

Born in the USSR I witnessed only the last decade of so called “consumer goods shortage” which accompanied my compatriots through the history of the XX century.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

The shortages were both horizontal and vertical which means that they affected both the supply of intermediate goods as well as related complementary goods. This could have involved several hours a day spent in queues just to obtain basic products like.... food.

I spent my teen years in the lines for groceries not noticing the hours go by. Like many kids of my generation I spent this time reading my favorite world classics. Thus , I can say, that unwillingly the Soviet grocery shortage contributed to my general culture. ;)

It also is very important to remember that different regions of USSR had different methods of products distribution. Sometimes this regional divergence was more significant than the social one.

Some studies mention today that “those , who during the 1970—1980s were considered as Soviet Intelligentsia as well as simple employees have different memories of Soviet consumer goods shortage than those who belonged to soviet leadership families".

Through the Stalin and Khruschev times Kommunist Party leaders denied this obvious fact. But all Russian citizens knew that your life will change once you either get into the countries’ elite. You will be shopping in the“reserved to elite only” shops (a secret invention of the planned economy). Or if you have no chance to become a part of this elite, your life could be much nicer if you make friends with those who work in these shops.

No doubt this contributed to the hidden corruption in the USSR. But still the majority of Soviet population had more chances to make friends with sales staff of “closed to public” boutiques than ever have a chance to visit those shops.

THE TIME HAS COME

Now, 25 years later, everything has changed. Like kids who waited for Christmas presents for too long our people happily enjoy consumerism. All tastes are catered.

So if someone still thinks that Russians lack anything he will live a real disillusion. Those times have gone. 
Like in any shops in Europe during any season you will find in Russian shops everything you want or dream to see. (I remember seeing our Moscow municipal house cleaner browsing on his iPhone3 a month before they were officially launched in Russia. Funny, no?)

Modern Russians are curious and open to new consumer world discoveries. Different manufactures from all over the world dream of entering the Russian market, hoping to conquer millions of new customers who will taste, use, try anything which is considered fashionable

...to such extend that only a good taste (and definitely money, which is never enough) will remain in real shortage!

Hedge funds in Russia

Do you have local hedge funds in Russia?

Asked by Alexander, Paris

I'll give you just a brief outlook, as there is a lot to say on this dynamic part of the world economics.

HISTORY & THEORY

Comparing to the US, where the first hedge fund was created in 1949, Russia was a late bloomer to provide conditions for operating hedge funds.

Soviet economy didn't believe in trading, so it was only in 1996 when the first a hedge fund Diamond Age Russia Fund (with assets of over 20 million dollars) was registered in Russia. As the site of the company says, the fund's investment objective is to generate maximum (absolute) long-term USD capital appreciation through an actively-managed, concentrated, hedged portfolio of Russian and Russia-related securities. Its activity had its ups and downs but the fund has managed to stay on the surface despite of various events (like local financial crisis of 1998) rocking Russian economy during the last decade. It managed to stay rather unique on the market for a long time but since economy always looks to maximize the profit....many of those investors who were restraining from investing in Russian economy before looking at the performance results quickly considered a change in their plans. Since mid of 2000-s investments in Russian showed stable returns and immediately the country was considered by those funds whose investment strategy was based on investing in highly risky but also highly profitable emerging markets economies (up to 25% of return comparing to 11% of other types of hedge fund strategies) .
As you can see from the table below almost all hedge funds (with Emerging Markets investment strategy) in 2009 over performed the previous year (first column 2009 results, second column 2008)




Experts suggest that last years Emerging markets hedge funds drew in over $9bn in new assets. This is more than was investing in this area 5 years ago when only $3.3bn was put into these types of hedge funds.

LEGAL BASE FOR HEDGE FUND IN RUSSIA

According to Russian legislation published in 2007 (Federal Law of the Russian Federation "On the Securities Market" and Federal Law of the Russian Federation "On the Investnment funds"), the hedge-fund is an investment partnership which can invest in not only securities (actions, bonds, etc.), but also in derivatives (options, futures), precious metals, as well as very risky investments, such as, for example, purchase of football club or objects of art.
These funds operating in Russia must be managed by professional professional managers or operating companies which obtained a license of Russian Federation.
Thus the asset's structure of Russian hedge-funds is determined by local legislation, as well as who can be considered eligible for to become investor of a hedge fund:

• One who owns securities and (or) other financial tools of total cost no less than 3mn RUR;
• One who has an operational experience in Russian and (or) foreign company which worked with securities and (or) derivatives;
• Performed quarterly within last 4 quarters not less than 10 deals with securities and (or) other financial tools which cumulative price for specified time has been not less than 300 thousand RUR, or concluded within last 3 years not less than 5 deals with securities and (or) other financial tools which cumulative price has made not less than 3 million RUR.

The most important criteria of abowe list is the last one - a prove to have necessary funds at the investor's disposal.

Of cause it will be unfair to say that hedge funds are easily accepted to work on Russian territory. Recent events during the process against local lawyer of London-based Hermitage Capital Management fund (who died in prison waiting for the trial) showed that Russian legal system is still vulnerable and confirmed that Russia is a real emerging market country with all following consequences and constrains.

NOWADAYS

As for today there are 6 hedge funds operating in Russia.

One of which is Prosperity Capital management (from top 30 European hedge funds classification) which currently has $4.1 bn under management and owns shares of many Russian and ex-USSR companies.

The others have less assets under management but they definitely will try to profit from post-crisis economy recovery.

And finally...REAL JAMES BOND GIRL

The shortage of local hedge funds are definitely compensated by the interest of local people ))))))....or those who are concerned by business intelligence (like recently (June 2010) accused of spying in Russia's favor US based personal assistant of the CEO of London-based hedge fund Navigator Asset Management Advisers, Ms.Anna Chapman, for example)

Russian business ethics

I am a student (business school to be more precise, based in Paris) and I am working on an oral presentation. The real topic is "How to do business with Russian people". Your blog helped me to know some of the habits that you have in this country. But I was just wondering if you could give me a hand on "the do's and dont's" with Russian people, especially in an business context.

And if you are aware about what a foreigner has to do before enter the country, I will be very grateful!

Asked by Naima, Paris

Dear Naima, I had to do a big research to answer your question...and am sure there is a lot to mention. So to meet the expectation of a business school student, I'll try to be short (PowerPoint presentation style?))
Some practical advice is given below although the majority would be applicable for many other countries (!). However, the expectation to see the Western model working in Russia like in other European countries could bring nothing but troubles.

• Be patient. It's known that “time is money”. As a result, Western businessmen are often impatient. They love to check the cost of time. In Russia, this, to a certain extent, is an unlimited resource. Patience is the major Russian virtue so Russians are accustomed to waiting for what they want. Foreigners, who expect a quick conclusion of a transaction can be really disappointed.

• Be ready to meet Russian managers who often have dual ethics. It is necessary to understand the difference between “ours” and “theirs”. Some studies in this area explain: “As a rule, managers have the highest ethical standards in the circle of their personal connections (“our”), but at the same time the same people can easily violate all ethical standards with respect to “theirs” (be dishonest, violate obligations, break agreements)."

• Respect is everything. Avoid impersonal messages. After obtaining a proposal on paper Russians can put it on hold ( “to mature”) and wait for personal contact. They assume that those who have no time to drop by obviously don't take the offer seriously.

• Build personal relationships. Russians entrust personal relations more than contracts. Remember commercial laws and contracts do not mean as much in Russia as in the West. Some consultants working with Russians specify that detailed contracts often follow an oral agreement concluded during an informal meeting. (Is is really typical just for Russians?)

• Use local consultants. Many business rules have changed since the early 1990s when the first businessmen put their foot on this "terre inconnue". Knowledge of the Russian language and experience in the local environment play an important role. Consequently, it is better to have a local consultant than an expat.

Remember, business ethics are different. For example, "offers" considered by Americans as presents, in Russia are considered as the means for building relationship. Although explicit bribes are illegal in foreign firms, symbolic gifts are usually legal. Such symbols as a rule, are more important than monetary “gifts”, although a certain “tariff” can be necessary for bureaucrats to advance paperwork.

• Emphasize exclusiveness. Russians prefer exceptional relationship. Foreigners frequently share financial information with competitors hoping to conclude more successful transaction. Russians, however, rarely do so.

Expectations of Russians

• Russians can overestimate the interest of an investor in the Russian market, while foreigners are really only examining potential possibilities.

Time management
Your Russian partners can have overloaded and badly planned agendas, which simply reflect the real state of affairs concerning time management in Russia.

Advantages

Russians can expect both organizational and personal advantages from negotiations. This means that those who lead negotiations can look for some personal benefits. (Will my personal financial and official situations change? Will there be any trips and other perks for me?)

Negotiations

Thoroughly select your delegation. Age and status are very important as well as gender, by the way. Women and young managers have a harder time gain the trust of Russian managers. Naturally, Russians prefer to deal with those who occupy important positions. Negotiations with junior representatives are received, at best as temporary and impersonal, and, at worst, they can be considered insulting.

Cultural
Even if many Russian businessmen have studied abroad and traveled around the world, people can still underestimate international cultural differences.
And last but not least. Be ready to drink ))). It is common in Russia spend long hours at working dinners (But I guess, you read about this Russian tradition before from other sources))))

P.S. To answer your last question, I have to invite you to read my introduction note )))))
Do a little bit of home work, please Google Russian entry visa information!