Russian banking system: searching for trust

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of trust, as an economic resource, contributing to the reduction of transaction costs. The paper is divided into two parts. In the first part, the authors define trust, as the transaction participants’ conviction that they can rely entirely on the counterparties’ promises. After that, the character of the damage that the society experiences from the disappearance of the relationship of trust is determined. These losses are caused by the switching of resources from the productive area to the scope of transaction management. Then the authors formulate the conditions that are necessary for the emergence of trust as such and for its spread in the Russian economy. There are two such conditions. The first is the impossibility of changing the contract unilaterally, without taking into account the interests of the counterparty. The second condition is the ability to control the execution of the transaction at any time by the counterparty. Later, the authors set out the reasons why trust has not spread in the political and economic life of contemporary Russia. The second part of the article explores the specific economic problems that arise in connection with the lack of trust between the parties to the contract. As an example, the banking sector, that is, perhaps the most important branch of the modern economy is considered. The second part begins with a short historical overview of the development of the banking sector of modern Russia. It is noted that real interaction between commercial banks and the Russian households began only in the 21st century, when the ruble exchange rate stabilized and the household incomes began to grow rapidly. At the same time, the practice of opportunistic behavior of commercial banks in relation to households was formed. This practice manifests itself in the systematic provision of false information to the customers or withholding truthful information from them. The opportunism of banks, along with high real interest rates, has caused the extremely small role played by Russia’s banking system in shaping consumer demand and, accordingly, overcoming the economic crisis. The passive position taken by the Bank of Russia in confronting banks and households is noted.