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According to the results of the crisis year 2009 GDP wage-capacity calculated as ratio of cumulative nominal wage of population engaged in economy to volume of national GDP reached 40% in Russia and exceeded similar showing of the EU by 39,3%. This is an essential macroeconomic showing, not calculated by the Russian Statistical Service, it has been calculated by analysts of audit and consulting company FBK since 2007.

FBK analysts have recently noticed that GDP wage-capacity has been growing unjustifiably fast: if in 2000 the showing equaled 23,6%, in 2008 it already reached 35,2%. “In crisis circumstances the trend has severely increased. Growth of GDP wage-capacity made 4,8 p.p.., which is absolute record among European countries”, Igor Nikolaev, Director of FBK Strategic Analysis Department. According to him, at the moment GDP wage-capacity of Russia is higher than in Belgium (39%), Norway (37,5%), Italy (31,3%) and other highly developed countries.

Igor Nikolaev noted a dangerous trend of growth of GDP wage-capacity. “In pre-crisis years, when growth of real wages was about two times more than labor productivity growth, we did not use resources for development in the best way. Nowadays records showed that “cannibalism” reached its critical stage. Russia can not afford to carry on eating up resources required for stable and dynamic exit out of economic crisis this torrentially”, the expert noted.

According to FBK analysts record-breaking showings of Russia are the result of three factors. First of all, the principle “pet subject” of Russian anti-crisis policy became increasing social support of population. Meanwhile both budget opportunities (almost three trillion RUR were spent only from the Safety Fund) as well as administrative ones – corresponding pressure of the state on private business were exploited. Secondly, growth of oil prices and other primary resources was significant in 2009. Thirdly, reduction of GDP in Russia in 2009 was record-breaking among the G-20 countries (by 7,9%). This is not surprising that average nominal monthly salary, e.g. in March 2010, was 20 158 RUR, which is 10,1% more comparing to the corresponding showing of March 2009. However, at the same time, Igor Nikolaev notes that we should not forget about significant gap in salaries of employees and officers (so, monetary salary incomes of Ministers of Russian government are 12-14 times more than the average showing for population engaged in economy, while in developed western countries salaries of Ministers are only 4-5 times bigger than the country’s average).