Russians’ adaptation to effects of the economic crisis

Russians’ adaptation to effects of the economic crisis


Мareeva S.V.

Cand. Sci. (Sociol.), Head of Centre for Stratification Studies, National Research University Higher School of Economics; Leading Researcher, Institute of Sociology FCTAS RAS, Moscow, Russia smareeva@hse.ru

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Мareeva S.V. Russians’ adaptation to effects of the economic crisis. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2017. No 11. P. 65-75




Abstract

Based on the materials of six waves of nationwide representative sociological monitoring by institute of Sociology RAS, in 2014–2017, changes in the everyday life of Russians due to the recent economic crisis are defined and adaptation strategies of population to the new economic conditions are analyzed. It is shown that the impact of the crisis on the lives of Russians is gradually decreasing, although the past two and a half years have already brought significant qualitative changes to it. These changes comprise not only material well-being, but general perception of life, hopes and expectations. A significant proportion of the population is forced to use different types of practices to improve their material well-being, but this is due not so much to the impact of the crisis in the moment, but rather to the realization that the changes taking place are not of a short-term nature. The main mechanisms for adaptation to the new economic conditions among Russians is economy and the reduction of expenditures (seriously affecting investments in human capital) and the use of subsidiary farming – traditional response of population to deterioration of economic conditions. Data on the socio-psychological state and expectations about material situation show that Russians are getting used to the new reality, but this cannot be considered to result from effective adaptation strategies related to the development of human capital, active labor market actions, new practices in financial behavior, etc., that could lay the foundation for further sustainable development of the country – the crisis did not act as the catalyst for development and dissemination of such strategies.


Keywords
adaptation strategies; standard of living; economy practices of economy; socio-psychological state; impact of crisis

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Content No 11, 2017