Publications
The focus of the article is to assess the impact of physical activity on alcohol and tobacco consumption among young Russians aged 18 to 24. The data of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS-HSE) for the period 2013-2019 years was used to conduct the empirical analysis. The panel sample included 9914 observations (4726 men and 5188 women). The econometric analysis found that physically active men, as expected, are more likely to lead a healthy lifestyle: they are less likely to smoke and consume alcohol compared to those who do not do exercises or sports. At the same time, the assumption that young women engaged in physical activity are less susceptible to unhealthy habits was not confirmed: a positive correlation was found between the physical activity of this group of respondents and their likelihood of drinking alcohol, as well as between the intensity of physical activity and the likelihood of smoking. The results of this study can be useful in developing public policy measures to encourage young Russians to be more physically active and give up unhealthy habits.
The purpose of the article is to present a methodological approach to assessing the state of the risk to the environment from man-made emergencies at chemically hazardous sites. The methodological approach is based on an expert method, the use of which allowed the authors to create the structure of the risk management system and, determine the plurality of criteria parameters while taking into account their weight in the formation of the environmental consequences of chemical accidents. Criteria parameters were grouped into clusters of physicochemical and toxicological properties of hazardous chemicals used at a chemical plant, equipment operating at an enterprise, personnel, and environmental vulnerability. The research became the basis of the Guidelines for Assessing the Environmental Risk from Emergencies at Chemically Hazardous Sites. As an example, the article presents the calculation of the level of environmental risk for a terrestrial site from the metallurgical enterprise LLP Kazakhmys Smelting, in Zhezkazgan town, Republic of Kazakhstan. The developed methodology is the basis of the Information and Analytical System for Assessing the Environmental Consequences of Man-made Emergencies, which allows users to facilitate the implementation of a set of measures aimed to forecast and reduce the impact of emergency’s damaging factors on the environment.
The article presents a review of literature systematizing findings on the contribution of non-cognitive skills to higher education choice-making. The concept of higher education choice-making in this paper embraces the decision to embark on a college degree, the probability of successful degree completion, the choice of academic discipline, and other related aspects. A priority focus is given to publi- cations in economics since the economic approach differs a lot from approaches in other social sciences.
In addition, the article explores the methodological characteristics of non-cognitive skills research in economics. The results of literature analysis point to the relevance of non-cognitive skills in explaining individual educational choices and allow drawing some inferences for education policy.
With an ageing population, older persons are retiring later and staying in the labour market longer. Employment of older per‑ sons can have both a positive and a negative impact on their life satisfaction. The analysis of the influence of employment of the elderly population on life satisfaction was carried out on the data of the Russian monitoring of the economic situation and health of the population in 2012–2017 by calculating models with fixed effects and instrumental variables. The results showed that among all age groups, pensioners have the lowest level of life satisfaction. At the same time, employed pensioners have a higher level of life satisfaction than the unemployed. Good health and a higher level of education, as well as living in a city or regional center, increase the likelihood of employment for older persons, and employment has a significant positive impact on the life satisfaction of the elderly population.
This study introduces a comparative analysis of the gender wage gap decomposition methods with the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) data for 2018. To decompose the differences in average wages, approaches based on the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition are used. Apart from the mean wages, the study focuses on other distribution statistics. Using the quantile regressions, the wage gap between men and women is decomposed for the distribution parameters such as median, lower and upper deciles. The decomposition estimates of conditional and unconditional (based on recentered influence functions) quantile regressions are compared.
Though master’s programmes are rapidly gaining attention from students, evidence concerning the labor market returns to master’s degree remains scarce. There is a widespread opinion that Russian employers can barely distinguish between graduates with bachelor’s and master’s degree making it unreasonable to pursue a graduate degree. This paper contradicts this opinion. Based on a unique administrative dataset about employment of Russian HEI graduates in 2020, this study reveals a significantly positive association between master’s degree acquisition and labour market outcomes one year after graduation. Master’s degree increases probability of employment by 3—8% in male sample and by 10—16% in female sample, respectively. Moreover, graduate degree is associated with a wage premium of 5—21% for females and 2—11% for males. Despite a short period of time passed after the Bologna reform, Russian labour market encourages having a graduate degree, though the size of the premium varies drastically between fields of study and types of university.
Trends and Issues in Doctoral Education: A Global Perspective serves two simple yet complex purposes—to understand the current realities in doctoral education in key countries and to examine current and proposed reforms. Fourteen country case studies and one regional case study present a range of global practices and focus on key issues facing doctoral education worldwide. Together with the literature review and the analysis of changes in doctoral education around the world over the past three decades by Maresi Nerad, the case studies provide the basis for this concluding discussion of the broader issues and themes suggested by the previous chapters.
The article provides an assessment of the factors that may affect the probability and intensity of physical activity among young Russians aged 15–24. The analysis is based on the data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS), 2000–2016 (N = 21,703). Econometric analysis shows that there is a positive relationship between the physical activity probability and the indicators such as educational level, household per capita income, and living in capital cities. There is also a negative relationship between the probability of physical activity and individual’s characteristics such as smoking, family status (marriage), employment status (having a job). Relationship between the probability and intensity of physical activity and such features as alcohol consumption, body mass index and subjective health assessment is inconclusive. Implementation of measures aimed at increasing the physical activity of young Russians taking into account the stimulating or restraining factors may increase the productivity of physical exercise and further improve health condition and contribute to a longer lifespan in Russia
Russian Doctoral Education: Between Teaching and Research
Purpose
The paradigm of school-to-work transition is changing, with an increasing number of students combining work and study. Furthermore, there exists some mixed evidence for the impact of student employment on future earnings and employment likelihood. The purpose of the present paper is to examine additional evidence that would shed light on the pros and cons of student work as a function of whether or not it matches the student’s field of study. We also discuss practical implications for specialists who facilitate the transition of graduates to the job market.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a quantitative study based on the National Statistical Survey of Graduate Employment (SGE) conducted by the Russian Federal State Statistic Service (Rosstat) in 2016 with the help of statistical methods of data analysis (logistic regression, Mincer equations). The analysis makes use of monthly earnings.
Findings
We show that student work is a predictor of higher employment chances for both university and vocational college graduates. Moreover, the highest employment chances are associated with student work that is well matched to the field of study. As for earnings, the greatest returns are again associated with work related to a graduate’s major. Jobs unrelated to education significantly correlate with earnings only for university graduates.
Research limitations/implications
An important limitation of the present study is its consideration of the effects of student employment over a relatively short-term period only, making use of data on employment just after graduation and starting salaries. These findings suggest the need for further study of graduate competencies and the process of their acquisition.
Practical implications
Our findings suggest some directions for education development. The results can be used to analyze the government’s and other stakeholders’ initiatives in the field of vocational and higher education.
Social implications
The research results can be used by a wide range of stakeholders interested in graduate employment as a source of data for designing policy for improving graduates’ employability.
Originality/value: Our study obtained data on the impact of student work on later employment. Tertiary graduates get returns from all work experience, while VET graduates earn more only if their student employment is consistent with their field of study.
Purpose
The paradigm of school-to-work transition is changing, with an increasing number of students combining work and study. Furthermore, there exists some mixed evidence for the impact of student employment on future earnings and employment likelihood. The purpose of the present paper is to examine additional evidence that would shed light on the pros and cons of student work as a function of whether or not it matches the student’s field of study. We also discuss practical implications for specialists who facilitate the transition of graduates to the job market.
Design/methodology/approach
This is a quantitative study based on the National Statistical Survey of Graduate Employment (SGE) conducted by the Russian Federal State Statistic Service (Rosstat) in 2016 with the help of statistical methods of data analysis (logistic regression, Mincer equations). The analysis makes use of monthly earnings.
Findings
We show that student work is a predictor of higher employment chances for both university and vocational college graduates. Moreover, the highest employment chances are associated with student work that is well matched to the field of study. As for earnings, the greatest returns are again associated with work related to a graduate’s major. Jobs unrelated to education significantly correlate with earnings only for university graduates.
Research limitations/implications
An important limitation of the present study is its consideration of the effects of student employment over a relatively short-term period only, making use of data on employment just after graduation and starting salaries. These findings suggest the need for further study of graduate competencies and the process of their acquisition.
Practical implications
Our findings suggest some directions for education development. The results can be used to analyze the government’s and other stakeholders’ initiatives in the field of vocational and higher education.
Social implications
The research results can be used by a wide range of stakeholders interested in graduate employment as a source of data for designing policy for improving graduates’ employability.
Originality/value: Our study obtained data on the impact of student work on later employment. Tertiary graduates get returns from all work experience, while VET graduates earn more only if their student employment is consistent with their field of study.
More than half of Russian university students combine study and work and dedicate on average 2/3 of their working week to paid work. A significant motivation for employment while studying, in addition to financial motivation, is the necessity to obtain work experience, which is valued by employers as an additional signal of the abilities of university graduates and their soft skills. Student employment does not considerably affect academic achievement due to the relatively low educational workload and the limited intensity of student employment. There is a significant and large positive effect of student employment on salaries of graduates in the early stages of their careers.
This chapter draws on literature from across different countries to paint a general picture of the state of doctoral education, and highlights major themes and common issues in different higher education systems. The review covers, and as such is limited to, literature available in English. Also, as it sets out to scan literature across common themes, the review focuses less on in-depth, country-specific case studies.
The chapter begins by elaborating the centrality of doctoral education, followed by a discussion of its purposes. Labour market conditionsand quality are the next two themes that are discussed. Variations based on different considerations and major trends in contemporary doctoral education are also explored. Finally, common challenges across systems and possible prospects are discussed.
Wage adjustments for employees are a reactive mechanism to changing market conditions and form a significant part of pay policy. Though various attempts to explore wage levels and wage differentials have been made, wage adjustment policies remain an understudied topic. This paper analyses the determinants of wage adjustments based on data from Russian companies 2015–2017. The analysis is based on detailed data from an employer survey which covers more than 5,000 firms in both the public and private sector. The study adopts probit models to identify the reasons for wage revisions, depending on internal employer characteristics and external labour market conditions. The results are in line with previous research on the topic and suggest that both internal and external factors influence wage adjustments. A wage adjustment is a reflection of an ability to pay, meaning that revisions are often made by successful firms with high employee turnover. Institutional frameworks, especially trade union activity, affects a firm’s decision to adjust wages, despite the widely-held opinion regarding the insignificance of unions in Russia. This study contributes to the limited literature by analysing the determinants of wage policies depending on a firm’s characteristics. This is the first study of its kind based on extensive Russian data.