printExcessive Income Inequality – Problems and Threats for Russia
Varshavsky A.E.
Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Prof., Head of laboratory CEMI RAS, Moscow, Russia varshav@cemi.rssi.ru
Varshavsky A.E. Excessive Income Inequality – Problems and Threats for Russia. Sotsiologicheskie issledovaniya [Sociological Studies]. 2019. No 8. P. 52-61
The paper discusses issues related to excessive income inequality in Russia. Different estimates of the income inequality of the population are given and it is demonstrated that inequality has returned to the level that existed in the country before 1917. External and internal factors are discussed of the inequality sharp increase after the transition to market economy. Significant problems caused by excessive inequality and slowing down economic growth, hindering the innovative development of Russia and leading to increased social tension are characterized. It is shown that considerable spatial inequality threatens to territorial integrity of the country and, in general, national security. The necessity of reviewing the state policy of income redistribution, transition to a progressive taxation rate with the aim of eliminating excessive income inequality and the problems caused by it, are substantiated.
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