Economic Growth and the Middle Class in an Economy in Transition

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This book examines the evolution of the middle class in Russia following the Soviet Union's collapse, utilizing data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS) to analyze the transition period from 1991 to 2008, marked by significant economic reforms. The initial section discusses the middle class concept and the economic landscape in Russia during this transformative era, emphasizing income distribution variations and the middle class's estimated significance. The second part explores the relationship between the middle class and income bipolarization. The final section employs a semiparametric "mixture model" to identify distinct groups within Russia's income distribution and their socio-economic and demographic traits. It also investigates household mobility into and out of the middle class during the transition, aiming to uncover factors influencing this movement. Through rigorous empirical methods, the volume illuminates a relatively underexplored economic group and offers insights for nations entering similar transitions. This work will appeal to researchers in economics and inequality, as well as professionals engaged with international organizations.