The Matryoshka: Another Victim of the Economic Crisis

By Julia Kosygina, Intern, The PBN Company, Washington, DC

Since their debut in the late 19th century, matryoshki - the Russian nesting dolls - have come to symbolize the country’s culture.  As fashions and political regimes have changed, the appetite for matryoshki has remained strong both in Russia and abroad.  Recently, however, the matryoshka industry has become yet another victim of Russia’s deepening economic crisis.  According to the Independent, matryoshka sales have fallen by 90% due to an ailing tourism industry and the penny-pinching habits of domestic consumers.

Fearing the extinction of its most popular souvenir and cultural artifact, the Kremlin has decided to bail out the matryoshka and the broader handicraft industry by purchasing more than $30 million dollars worth of nesting dolls and other traditional crafts for state officials to give away as gifts - the Kremlin hopes that giving away matryoshki instead of iPods will stimulate patriotism while reviving a dying industry.

The patriotic bailout may change the matryoshka’s image as manufacturers cater to their benefactor’s political agenda, favoring traditional Russian motifs over novelty dolls depicting Star Trek characters and US presidents. These concerns, however, come second to what is currently the industry’s primary objective: survival.  And while the government’s multi-million dollar investment may have granted the industry a reprieve, its long term viability is still in question as falling domestic demand forces salary cuts and layoffs. The Kremlin may be able to keep the matryoshka on life-support for the time being, but with growing demands on the federal purse, its future is far from secure.

Possibly related posts:

1. The Taste of Crisis: What the Economic Downturn Means for Russians’ Food Purchasing and Dining Habits
2. Russian Tourism Down … Except for Space Flights
3. Russia: Deepening Crisis or Road to Recovery?
4. [The Crisis: Make Or Break Time for Key Relationships] Part II: Business and Government
5. Is Medvedev’s “Go Russia!” Going Anywhere?