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Between Light and Shadow: Informality in the Russian Labour Market

Author

Listed:
  • Gimpelson, Vladimir

    (University of Wisconsin-Madison)

  • Kapeliushnikov, Rostislav

    (CLMS, Higher School of Economics, Moscow)

Abstract

Economic growth in Russia in the first decade of this century almost doubled the country's GDP but was accompanied by substantial reallocation of labor to the unregulated sector while formal employment was on gradual decline. The paper overviews evolution of the Russian labour market during the period of 2000-10 and discusses most general implications of informality to employment and earnings as well as the associated political economy challenges and consequences.

Suggested Citation

  • Gimpelson, Vladimir & Kapeliushnikov, Rostislav, 2014. "Between Light and Shadow: Informality in the Russian Labour Market," IZA Discussion Papers 8279, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp8279
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lehmann, Hartmut & Razzolini, Tiziano & Zaiceva, Anzelika, 2011. "Job Separations and Informality in the Russian Labor Market," IZA Discussion Papers 6230, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    2. Vladimir Gimpelson & Rostislav Kapeliushnikov & Anna Lukiyanova, 2012. "Stuck Between Surplus and Shortage: Demand for Skills in Russian Industry," Studies in Economic Transition, in: Tilman Brück & Hartmut Lehmann (ed.), In the Grip of Transition: Economic and Social Consequences of Restructuring in Russia and Ukraine, chapter 2, pages 47-75, Palgrave Macmillan.
    3. Bosch, Mariano & Esteban-Pretel, Julen, 2015. "The labor market effects of introducing unemployment benefits in an economy with high informality," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 1-17.
    4. Margolis, David N. & Navarro, Lucas & Robalino, David A., 2012. "Unemployment Insurance, Job Search and Informal Employment," IZA Discussion Papers 6660, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Milan Vodopivec, 2013. "Introducing unemployment insurance to developing countries," IZA Journal of Labor Policy, Springer;Forschungsinstitut zur Zukunft der Arbeit GmbH (IZA), vol. 2(1), pages 1-23, December.
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    8. Gimpelson, Vladimir & Kapeliushnikov, Rostislav, 2011. "Labor Market Adjustment: Is Russia Different?," IZA Discussion Papers 5588, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    9. Guillermo E. Perry & William F. Maloney & Omar S. Arias & Pablo Fajnzylber & Andrew D. Mason & Jaime Saavedra-Chanduvi, 2007. "Informality : Exit and Exclusion," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 6730.
    10. Hussmanns, Ralf., 2004. "Measuring the informal economy : from employment in the formal sector to informal employment," ILO Working Papers 993750003402676, International Labour Organization.
    11. Maloney, William F, 1999. "Does Informality Imply Segmentation in Urban Labor Markets? Evidence from Sectoral Transitions in Mexico," The World Bank Economic Review, World Bank, vol. 13(2), pages 275-302, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Altay Mussurov & Dena Sholk & G. Reza Arabsheibani, 2019. "Informal employment in Kazakhstan: a blessing in disguise?," Eurasian Economic Review, Springer;Eurasia Business and Economics Society, vol. 9(2), pages 267-284, June.
    2. Sinyavskaya, O. & Biryukova, S., 2018. "Possible Measures Aimed at Reducing Informal Employment and Hidden Wages," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 37(1), pages 193-203.
    3. Gimpelson, Vladimir & Kapeliushnikov, Rostislav, 2016. "Polarization or upgrading? Evolution of employment in transitional Russia," Russian Journal of Economics, Elsevier, vol. 2(2), pages 192-218.
    4. Brock, Gregory, 2015. "The informal economy of Rostov Oblast on the eve of the Ukrainian refugee crisis," Journal of Policy Modeling, Elsevier, vol. 37(5), pages 789-803.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    informal labour market; employment; Russia;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J31 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Wages, Compensation, and Labor Costs - - - Wage Level and Structure; Wage Differentials
    • J40 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Particular Labor Markets - - - General
    • P2 - Political Economy and Comparative Economic Systems - - Socialist and Transition Economies

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