Since the early 1990s Russia has invested a lot of money and resources into education and skilled labor. “Russia has a generally well-educated and well-disciplined workforce, not to mention a large number of world-class physicists and mathematicians.” Russia’s economy is mostly based on raw materials, with “human-capital-intensive sectors making only a minor contribution.” Also, during the Soviet Era, Russians were mostly assigned jobs and educated by the government, with little self-determination on the part of the citizens. Today, the highly educated public lacks the entrepreneurial spirit, and the private sector struggles significantly.
Business Insider – Russia’s Persistent Weakness of Human Capital
http://www.businessinsider.com/russias-persistent-weaknesses-of-human-capital-2014-1