Economist Podcasts Fortunes of war: is Russia’s economy slowing?
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Sep 29, 2025 
Join Callum Williams, a Senior economics writer at The Economist, and Alice Su, a Senior international correspondent, as they dive into Russia's resilient but slowing economy under sanctions. Callum reveals how fiscal stimulus has masked the economic downturn while exploring whether rising inflation could pressure Putin. Alice shares insights on the creative tactics of protestors in China, highlighting how economic grievances are turning into political action despite severe state crackdowns.
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Workarounds Weaken Sanctions
- New sanction rounds may again be circumvented via barter and intermediaries.
- Callum expects workarounds to blunt much of EU and US measures' impact.
Slowdown Doesn't Mean Revolt
- Slowing growth doesn't equal immediate political instability in Russia.
- Real wages and consumer confidence remain high, reducing pressure on Putin.
Projector Protest From Abroad
- Qi Hong projected anti-party slogans from an empty hotel room and then left China.
- He filmed police confusion and uploaded videos that reached millions online.