The Economically Inactive Population in Russia

Sociological Research. 2016. Vol. 55. No. 4. P. 274–290.

Varshavskaia E., Denisenko M.

This work is an analysis of the level and dynamics of economic inactivity in Russia in the 2000s, describing the main sociodemographic characteristicsof economically inactive people and the reasons for their nonparticipation, making a cross-country comparison of Russia and the countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. The empirical basis consists of population surveys on employment issues. The reserves for increasing the labor supply from those ages twenty-five to forty-nine are found to be almost exhausted for women and significantly limited for men. Reduction of economic inactivity of the population is possible mainly by drawing on younger and older people. This requires institutional and socioeconomic changes (increasing the retirement age, increasing the diversity of forms of employment, creating opportunities for combining study and work, improving health, etc.).

Keywords: Russia, labor supply, Economic inactivity