FBK Economic Club panelists look into the future through the cultural lens

A regular meeting of the FBK Economic Club, this time dedicated to “Cultural drivers of economic growth”, has brought together visiting experts to look at a phenomenal cultural effect on the today’s Russian economy. The panelists unanimously concluded that in the second decade of the 21st century Russia’s cultural paradigm is going through a dramatic shift.



According to Daniil Dondurey, a Russian cultural specialist, the chief editor of the Art of Cinematography journal, Russian culture being a set of generative ideas contains a number of concepts which underpin economic growth as well as a few limiting factors precluding growth, and we have been seeing increasing impact of these factors over the last years. The panelist noted mentioning film and teleproduction as examples that locally broadcasted films and film series lack positive images of the businessman, the man who wholly owns his own life and aspires to change it.

Alexander Rubtsov, Leader of the Ideological Processes Research Center at the Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Science Academy noted that any change in a country’s economy starts with developing of ideologemes in the first place, while these ideologemes are going through transformation quite slowly and it takes focused efforts to reach the desired effect.

Igor Pototsky, General director of STP Content TV broadcasting company, dwelt on a historically variable nature of cultural concepts and a need for critical rethinking of criteria underlying analysis of cultural and economic interconnections.

Igor Nikolaev, a FBK partner, Director at Strategic Consultancy spoke on the role of culture in this country’s economy. As suggested by the Consultancy’s research findings, the share of culture and art in Russia’s aggregate GDP indicator has changed little over the last nine years and makes 0,8 per cent, which corresponds to the level of such developed economies as Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg. As explained by Igor Nikolaev, the surveys conducted among Russian people over the last two years have revealed increasing importance of well-being, cultural development as factors which could drive economic growth of this country. Nikolaev sees it as very positive evidence which demonstrates that Russian culture and economy still hold promise for the future.

The FBK Economic Club is a unique discussion forum which facilitates expert insights exchange between mass media and renowned economists, politicians and government officials. The Club’s meetings also feature analytical research conducted by FBK.

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