ASU on ISLAND 10-22: Astrakhan Delegation Learns about “Russian Chance” from a MSU Dean

The second educational workshop “Island 10-22” offers a brand-new educational format called “visionary lectures” to its participants. The representatives of Astrakhan State University managed to attend a lecture by Aleksandr Auzan, the Dean of the MSU Faculty of Economics.

At his visionary lecture "Digital Economy as Economy: Institutional Challenges", the expert spoke in detail about the influence of artificial intelligence on economic changes, some disappearing professions and the fundamental global change, based on economic digitalization.

"Mass customization is an extremely interesting area for Russia. It’s a kind of „the phenomenon of Levsha“: of course, we can shoe a flea and put a signature, but mass production of fleas is still a domain of British, German and Chinese industries. Mass customization is a chance for Russia. We are better at making some unique, limited-edition things.

What is „mass customization“ in digital economy? Let me use an example to explain it. Why does a successful startup have to be sold to a large company? Because it lacks for money for mass production. And why do we need this mass production? Because any economy starts from economies of scale. As for mass customization areas, they do not need such economies.

3D printing and additive technologies allow to produce an individual thing, customized for a certain client, with similar costs. I think, it’s a chance for Russia if we can, of course, provide it with relevant institutions, because we need global platforms to enter the world markets. Now small groups are able to do it. It is a revolution in the balance and functions of small, medium and big businesses," — said Aleksandr Auzan during his lecture.

The speaker also described in detail the specificity of digital economy and the positions Russia can take in the new digital world.