Economic Consciousness In A Multicultural Society. Evidence From South Ural And Khakassia

Abstract

The problem of economic consciousness in a multicultural society is becoming increasingly relevant due to the growing pace of international migration and corresponding possibilities and threats. The purpose of the study is to identify the peculiarities of the structure and content of economic attitudes of youth in a multicultural society (on the example of the South Ural and Khakassia). The "Economic Attitudes Questionnaire" was used to examine the peculiarities of economic consciousness in a multicultural society. The study (N=203) revealed the universal dominant values perceived by students in a multicultural Russian society: the ability to achieve financial success by their own efforts depending only on themselves, as well as the awareness of the irrationality of consumer behavior. Students from Khakassia are more active and independent in the economic sphere of life as compared to the youth of the South Ural and are less worried about money and ready to take risks, and more sympathetic towards entrepreneurs. At the same time, Students from Khakassia choose health over money (salary), which can be explained by the high priority of health in the harsh natural environment of the region. The results suggest that the structure and content of economic consciousness acquire specific features within a multicultural society. These peculiarities may be due to both the influence of the regional economy and the unique ethnic traits of the nations that comprise the Russian Federation.