Regional Features of Income Stratification in the Context of Employment and Financial Behavior (Case of the Tyva Republic)

Abstract

Based on the data of representative sociological research of inhabitants of the Tyva Republic conducted by researchers of Institute of sociology of FCTAS RAS in April 2019, the article reveals the features of income stratification of the population of the Republic in the context of employment and financial behavior. It is shown that the model of income strat-ifi cation of Tuva is shifted down, since the population of the Republic is dominated by groups with incomes, usually not exceeding 1.5 medians, who also have loans or credits. In General, this situation is partly replicated at the country level. Savings strategies are not widely popular among the population of the Republic. It is also noted that the presence of official employment among the majority of respondents, although it reduces the risk of falling into the group of low-income people, does not guarantee their socio-economic stability. At the same time, individuals ‘ subjective estimates of their income are concentrated in approximately the same range, corresponding to the median group. This, on the one hand, indicates absubjective desire for more prosperous groups in material terms, and on the other hand, confirms that the established way of life is perceived by most Tuvans as the most common in the region, allowing them to feel no worse than the rest. The results of the study also show that in order to ensure an appropriate standard of living, the population of the Republic often turns to mutual assistance resources. At the same time about half of households pay debts to credit and microfinance organizations.