We are publishing this document with the expectation of generating broad interest in conducting research on its topics. We look forward to the support of the academic community in finding answers to questions that are relevant to the Russian economy and the financial sector. The Bank of Russia welcomes research conducted by academic staff, postgraduates and undergraduate students, and it is open to discussing their results at research seminars and conferences. This document includes more than just research on financial and economic issues. We put a high priority on statistical and methodological research which is aimed at finding, developing, and improving data and methods of working with data for economic research.