The Russian Labour Market: Between Transition and Turmoil

Labour markets are a central element of any transition from planned economy to market-oriented system. This groundbreaking book examines the plight of Russian workers and employers during the first decade of post-Soviet reforms, providing the first integrated analysis of such scope and breadth. In examining the Russian labour market in transition, the authors draw on a rich array of survey data and several years of fieldwork and research. Using a multidisciplinary approach to develop a comprehensive view of Russian labour, they argue that labour market flexibility early in the transition provided an important cushion for workers who would have been displaced with little recourse to social protection. However, over time, this flexibility reduced pressures for enterprise restructuring and accommodated policy drift. Concluding with policy recommendations for enhanced functioning of the labour market in post-socialist Russia, this book will be invaluable for all those interested in issues of transition and economic reform.