The complex picture of development of different forms of non-standard employment during transition period is presented here for the first time in Russian literature. The monograph discusses both general theoretic and applied aspects of market flexibility and labor relations in modern Russian economy. The authors present an empirical analysis of such forms of non-standard employment as incomplete, temporary, casual, informal, and employment at personal household plots. Their analysis is based on the use of most representative blocks of microdata of research 1992—2002 of labor force. One chapter is dedicated to alternative evaluations of employment and employment in different transitional economies that take into account the spread of non-standard forms of labor relations. Addressed to economists, sociologists, and jurists studying different aspects of labor market and labor relations, as well as government officials in the sphere of labor, employment, and social policy.

This study guide is dedicated to the research of informal economics or the activity of economic agents, which is not regulated by law and contracts, is exempt from taxation and is not reflected in statistics. Both illicit and extralegal economic activities are considered. Accordingly, the course examines both the shadow or criminal economics and the household economics, as well as the economics of inter-family exchange. The course is relevant due to the scale and the socioeconomic consequences of informal economic activity. The lectures consistently familiarize the reader with the international tendencies in development of informal economics, as well as with its Russian peculiarities. Attention is given to the history of problematization of informal economics, its engines of progress, its structural and institutional base and the comparative specifics of its segments. It touches upon such hot topics as corruption and covert relations between power and business.

Intended for all branches of economic, management, and sociological education.

Svetlana Yu. Barsukova

Graduated from Novosibirsk State University, Faculty of Economics. Doctor of Science, Sociology, professor of the State University — Higher School of Economics. Author of more than a 100 scientific papers including “Privatization and Labor Relations: from G eneral and Unitary to Particular and Varied” (1997, in coauthorship with V.I. G erchikov), “Informal Economics: Economical and Sociological Analysis” (2004). A laureate (first degree) of All-Russian prize in the field of analytic journalism named after Nikita Kirichenko (2005).

This book is devoted to the construction of the new model of reality fundamentallybased on the notion of narrative ontology according to which theconcept of true and false does not play a pivotal role in human life.
Simple sentences in propositional logic have two meanings, truth andfalse. But if there are propositional attitudes as “I say that…”, “I believethat…” etc., than according to G. Frege’s rule the content of a propositionalattitude lacks a truth value. Thus in a sentence “I say that it israining” only “I say…” has a truth value.
The first law of narrative ontology is: we can only be sure about thefact that we say something. The second law of narrative ontology is: itis not important whether any event took place or not, but whether thisevent is interesting for us.Reality sends us messages. We must read them. If we read them correct,we will be able to understand the meaning of life.

This paper discusses the current stage of economic development in Russia. In particular, the authors analyze the problems caused by both the inefficiencies accumulated during the previous years, and the deterioration of the external conditions in 2014. They also stress the factors that can support and prevent the restructuring of the Russian economy and its further growth. In conclusion they list a couple of economic policy scenario appropriate for new situation.

Concentrated ownership and management turnover: the case of Russia

The paper provides new survey evidence on effects of the firm’s performance and ownership profile on management turnover and succession patterns in Russian industrial firms. On the basis of the Russian Economic Barometer panel data authors analyze changes in average tenure of top managers in the REB respondent enterprises over 90's, estimate probabilities of their replacement and assess shares of incumbents and non'incumbents among CEOs and Chairmen of the Board of Directors. The major econometric findings are that managers’ entrenchment is positively related to insider ownership and negatively to outsider ownership. Besides, a probability to be replaced is higher for poorly performed than for well performed top executives. As for succession patterns, «outside» appointments seem to be more likely in distressed companies and in companies dominated by outsiders while «inside» appointments seem to be more likely in well performed companies and in companies dominated by insiders. The main conclusion following from the study is that in spite of numerous built'in defects, the Russian system of corporate governance is doing what it h