Publications

The paper summarizes the estimates of the gender wage gap in the Russian labour market from 1996 to 2021 based on a meta-analysis. Parenthood is the most important factor that impacts the variation in the unexplained portion of the gap. Ignoring parenthood leads to a significant underestimation of the gender wage gap. In contrast, lack of controls for industry and profession leads to an overestimation of the unexplained portion of the gap. The explanatory power of the traditional factors, such as human capital or job characteristics, tends to decline over time. Including personality traits of men and women into analysis reduces the unexplained portion of the gap. Our analysis contradicts the hypothesis of the gender bias among researchers. Moreover, measure of pay is a major determinant of the gap, which is higher for monthly than for hourly wages. We found no significant differences in the gender gap estimates obtained with various assessment methods or data bases. Finally, Heckman's correction for self-selection does not affect the estimates of gender inequality.

The article's focus is to assess the impact of physical activity on alcohol and tobacco consumption among young Russians aged 18 to 24. The Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMSHSE) data for the period 2013-2019 years was used to conduct the empirical analysis. The panel sample included 9 914 observations (4 726 men and 5 188 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 probability of drinking alcohol, as well as between the intensity of physical activity and the probability of smoking. The results of this study can help develop public policy measures to encourage young Russians to be more physically active and give up unhealthy habits.  The article's focus is to assess the impact of physical activity on alcohol and tobacco consumption among young Russians aged 18 to 24. The Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMSHSE) data for the period 2013-2019 years was used to conduct the empirical analysis. The panel sample included 9 914 observations (4 726 men and 5 188 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 probability of drinking alcohol, as well as between the intensity of physical activity and the probability of smoking. The results of this study can help develop public policy measures to encourage young Russians to be more physically active and give up unhealthy habits.  

Non-cognitive skills are widely recognized in economics as an important factor that affects various individual outcomes, including wages and employment. Non-cognitive skills can also serve as an additional explanation for the gender wage gap. This paper disentangles the complex relationship between non-cognitive skills and the gender wage gap based on Russian data. Data are collected from a nationally representative Russian survey RLMS-HSE and include detailed information on individuals aged 20–60. We use the Big Five factor model, locus of control, and attitudes towards risk to represent non-cognitive skills. Our findings suggest that non-cognitive skills account for up to 8 per cent of the gender wage gap, although significant variation is observed with different measures of personality and across the wage distribution. We conclude that personality traits are noteworthy but not exhaustive factors in the gender wage gap, and there are other unobserved factors which researchers have yet to identify.

Vaccination is the main tool available to handle the COVID-19 pandemic globally. Though no vaccine is proven to be 100% effective, vaccination secures against getting seriously ill and dying from the disease. Russia announced the development of its first domestic vaccine back in August 2020 and launched the nationwide immunization campaign at the beginning of 2021. Despite these achievements, as for mid-October 2021, only 36% of the population got at least one shot of the vaccine. Massive vaccination hesitancy and refusal pose a great threat to public health and postpone social and economic recovery. Using nationally representative data from the general adult population of Russia, this study explores the scope of vaccination hesitancy and refusal as well as the determinants of vaccination attitudes. The results suggest that only 45% of Russian population demonstrated positive attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccination prior the launch of nationwide vaccination. We analyze a wide array of demographic, socio-economic, and health-related factors in relation to vaccination intentions. We also explore the deep-rooted causes of vaccination reluctance by looking at personality traits, religiosity, and trust. The obtained results are vital for designing policy measures to promote vaccination as a “fourth wave” of COVID-19 in Russia is currently progressing

Economic and sociological research that touches upon the determinants of alcohol consumption is mostly centered on the traditional factors of human capital (e.g., education). While much attention is given to education as a valid instrument to reduce alcohol misuse, less is given to the impact of non-cognitive skills. Data are collected from a nationally representative Russian panel survey, 2016–2018. We estimate a random-effects probit model for the probability of abstinence and a random-effects tobit model with a Heckman correction for the volume of alcohol consumption. Non-cognitive skills are consistent predictors of drinking in Russia. In both genders, conscientiousness and extraversion have strong connections to the probability and the volume of alcohol consumption, while openness to experience and neuroticism only affect the volume. The estimates for education differ substantially when the Big Five variables are excluded from the model, which suggests that a major part of the effect of education on alcohol consumption patterns may be mediated through non-cognitive skills. Although educational interventions are often seen as a method of solving excessive drinking problems, introducing personality traits into the analysis raises the question of the effectiveness of such interventions.

In this study we analyze the convergence of GDP per capita from 2000 to2013 (current prices and euro exchange rates) for eight countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania) of the European Union (CEE8). Some convergence indicators are also calculated for the CEE8 as a whole. The main purpose of this study is to shed some light on the impact of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) on regional convergence in advanced emerging countries, like the CEE8. The main result of random effects panel regressions for unconditional beta-convergence is that significant convergence is found for the whole period from 2000-2013, but not for sub-periods on either end of the sample, except for Hungary and Poland. This means that convergence in most CEECs is only significant if the GFC is included in the estimation period. The role of capital regions for the convergence process is an item for future research.

In this study we analyze the convergence of GDP per capita from 2000 to2013 (current prices and euro exchange rates) for eight countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) of the European Union (CEE8). Some convergence indicators are also calculated for the CEE8 as a whole. The main purpose of this study is to shed some light on the impact of the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) on regional convergence in advanced emerging countries, like the CEE8. The main result of random effects panel regressions for unconditional beta-convergence is that significant convergence is found for the whole period from 2000-2013, but not for sub-periods on either end of the sample, except for Hungary and Poland. This means that convergence in most CEECs is only significant if the GFC is included in the estimation period. The role of capital regions for the convergence process is an item for future research.

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.