Maxim Oreshkin, a senior economic aide to the Russian President and former Minister of Economic Development, has stated that the planned economy—a system utilized by the Soviet Union for more than seven decades—is returning to Russia, driven by the forces of digitalization.
Oreshkin argued that the automation of management processes and the wholesale digitalization of economic relations serve as evidence of a revival of the principles once held by the State Planning Committee, or Gosplan.
Speaking during an open expert dialogue titled “Higher Education in the New Technological Era,” as reported by the TASS news agency, Oreshkin noted that the planned economy is returning in its most optimal form and is currently undergoing a process of restructuring.
Emphasizing that those who fail to digitalize remain decades behind modern reality, Oreshkin noted that all data is now stored in digital environments. He stated that institutions and transactions are increasingly automated, shifting the focus of economic activity from human interaction with nature to interactions between people.
Oreshkin cited digital taxi services as a primary example of this shift, noting that these platforms have transitioned to “planned” pricing models.
He argued that a traditional market no longer exists within the taxi sector, as every element of the transaction, including the matching of passengers with drivers, can now be fully automated.
“You can no longer choose who will take you, and you cannot choose the price,” Oreshkin said. “If the planned economy system says you will travel for 428 rubles, you travel for that price. This is a planned price, determined automatically for that specific journey.”
Describing Russia’s current economic situation as “quite difficult,” Oreshkin stated that the challenges are not linked to recent internet restrictions.
The presidential aide highlighted more significant factors weighing on the economy. Speaking to journalist Pavel Zarubin, Oreshkin noted that the economy is facing acute shortages of resources and personnel, which are hindering economic development. He also pointed to the slow pace of structural changes and the delayed adoption of technology.
When asked about views suggesting that internet restrictions were impacting economic growth, Oreshkin maintained that the negative figures observed in economic dynamics were unrelated to that factor. He emphasized that other influences on the economy are far more pronounced.
Last week, Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov also pointed to the arduous conditions facing the Russian economy.
Reshetnikov stated that the reserves within the Russian economy have been largely exhausted. He noted that the business community is feeling the weight of the current situation particularly acutely due to recent tax changes.
The minister stated that the primary task now is to assist the business world in adapting to these evolving conditions.
In March, the Kremlin stated that internet outages were being carried out in accordance with existing legislation.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that these restrictions were linked to security requirements, while adding that the problems these measures created for the business community remained a subject for further analysis.
A source in the IT sector, speaking to the Kommersant newspaper, estimated that a five-day outage in March cost the Moscow business community between 3 billion and 5 billion rubles.
The Central Bank of Russia, in a report published on April 24, maintained its GDP growth forecast for 2026 at a range of 0.5-1.5%, consistent with its February estimates. The bank also held its growth forecasts for 2027 and 2028 steady at 1.5-2.5%.
Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), warned in early April that economic growth could stall to zero, while fixed-capital investment could decline by 1.5%.
Shokhin added that the government and the Central Bank are aware of these trends and will not allow them to persist. He emphasized that a GDP growth rate of at least 2% is required to revitalize the investment process.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking on April 15, attributed the decline in GDP at the start of the year to calendar effects and weather conditions.
Putin noted that there were two fewer working days in January and one fewer in February compared to last year. He stated that while these objective conditions played a role, other factors determining commercial and investment activity in the country are also at play.
