SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEPENDENCE ON THE STATE AND VOTING BEHAVIOUR IN RUSSIA

Abstract

The paper attempts to determine whether an individual’s socio-economic dependence on the state in Russia translates into a higher propensity to turn out for elections and to vote for the ruling party or its candidate. It also explores the mechanisms employed by the state to mobilise dependent voters based on the case of two contrasting regions: Yaroslavl Oblast and the Republic of Tatarstan. The quantitative analysis carried out based on data coming from the Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of the Higher School of Economics indicates a positive association between socio-economic dependence on the state and turnout in regard to sector and formal nature of employment, pensioner status and rural residence. At the same time, the results do not provide sufficient evidence to state that dependence on the state in these spheres makes people more likely to cast their votes for the ruling elites (with rural residence constituting an exception).