On the Causes of Socio-Economic Inequality Reproduction: What Does Resources Approach Show?

Abstract

This paper presents an attempt at answering the question of why the scope of socio-economic inequality stays the same in Russia despite the poverty rate reduction. The authors are looking for the causes of this phenomenon in the domain of social dynamics, i.e., in the nature of current vertical mobility mechanisms. To study these mechanisms the authors use resources approach. The information database of the research is the representative sample survey carried by the Institute for Social Analysis and Forecasting at RANEPA in 2013. The majority of the respondents have, in fact, vague idea of general parameters of the economic development of the country and of their personal prospects to adapt to possible changes. This state of things hinders the development of rational models of socio-economic behavior directed towards the growth of personal and family welfare and productive in terms of national economy development - these, eventually, would advance the reduction of socio-economic inequality. Various groups of population are predominantly oriented towards converting social capital viewed not in terms of trust and solidarity, but in terms of ties or connections and of personal loyalty.