If you are waiting for Russia to collapse based on high inflation, you are going to wait a long time.
They tried to collapsed the Russian economy back in 2022 - they threw everything bar the kitchen sink.
As I said back in 2022, Russia supply the things we all need - the essential goods; such as food, oil and gas, and minerals. They don't supply the luxury cars and chips.
Ordinary people don't buy luxury cars, so anything that rises at 100% at the high end, is borne by those who can afford it. These are discretionary items. Not essential items.
The Essential items like food and fuel are still very cheap. That is what matters to the ordinary people, not the high end goods like luxury cars.
And if they (Essential items) do rise in Russia, the world will face runaway INFLATION, as it get passed on. That's because Russia supply circa 25% of the food the whole world needs.
As to labor shortage, all they have to do, is employ Millions of North Korean with temporary work visa.
Nonetheless, if you are waiting for them to collapse based on 25% inflation rate, you will be waiting a long time, as Venezuela, Cuba, Argentina still have not collapsed - and they are running at nearly 100% inflation rate.
At the end of the day, Russia can afford to fight for a long time, as they supply the ESSENTIAL things we all need - Not the Discretionary Items like Luxury Cars and Brand Names.
A little Fact you guys continually overlook:
Russia's overall trade surplus came in at $140 billion in 2023 -- down 58.5 percent on 2022, which saw Moscow earn bumper energy revenues as its offensive on Ukraine sent oil and gas prices surging and Europe carried on buying Russian energy for much of the year.Yup, surplus down 59%, but yet, still $140 Billion dollars in 2023 (despite all the sanctions)!!! It was over $230 Billions in 2022.https://www.barrons.com/news/russian-exports-to-europe-down-two-thirds-in-2023-72a3e824Yes, Russia can sustain the war for a long time (
two years of war, they made over $370 Billions in surplus), whereas Ukraine has become a Beggar, asking for money every few months - the minute the money stops, is the minute Ukraine collapses.
