Slobodenyuk E.D. Social Mobility of Russians in Terms of Life Chances and Risks. Journal of Economic Sociology. 2022. Vol. 23. No. 1. P. 39–59.

Текст статьи на сайте журнала URL: https://ecsoc.hse.ru/data/2022/01/30/1758802216/ecsoc_t23_n1.pdf#page=39 (дата обращения 05.05.2026)

Abstract

The paper focuses on issue of social mobility and immobility of Russians in neo-Weberian stratification hierarchy of Russian society, based on indicators of life chances. Social mobility is interpreted as transition between three mass strata. Trajectories of mobility (rates and factors) are analyzed using RLMS panel data of a six-year interval from 2013 to 2018 and Group Based Trajectory Modeling (GBTM) method. It is shown that a quarter of Russians moved from stratum to stratum. Mobility usually occurs over a short distance. Cases of significant life changes that would lead to the transition between polar strata (low and high) are exceptions to the rule. Chances of getting into polar strata depend on quality of human potential and, as a result, on individuals’ places in system of industrial relations. Only highly qualified Russians with good health, who also originate from high-educated families, have high chances of getting into positively privileged (high) strata. For these Russians, composite rents work. Risks of moving down to low strata are formed for low-educated russians with bad health and low-educated parents, mainly due to employment on bad job positions which violate employee's rights. The paper shows that social background continues to play significant role in shaping chances on social wellbeing and mobility. It also draws attention on fact that skills in use of information technology form a new basis for inequality between people.