Informal Economy of the Russian Province. Resource Sources and Household Craft Practices
Abstract
An empirical study of informal economic practices (crafts) of provincial households has been carried out. It is based on materials received in 16 Russian regions. There is a qualitative research methodology. The author applies the classical methodology of qualitative research. The main methods are direct observation and interviews. Provincial crafts make up a significant share of household income and are mainly aimed at self-sufficiency. A typology of crafts is presented. Four types are distinguished: household crafts, “scattered manufactories”", “garage economy” and “otkhodnichestvo” (temporary internal labor migration). It is shown that the types of craft practices have different meanings for residents of rural areas, small, medium and large cities. Household crafts and “otkhodnichestvo” are most important for rural residents, the “garage economy” for residents of large cities. All four types of crafts are represented in small towns. Five types of resources that are sources of crafts have been identified. They are divided into groups of natural and social resources (infrastructural, human and state). The types of crafts implemented using different resources are described. According to the number and structure of craft practices of households using different groups of resources, local communities are differentiated into several clusters, regardless of geographical location and environmental and climatic conditions. Households narrowly specialized in a few crafts are isolated, with special economic conditions, and rural communities. Households with a predominance of crafts on natural and household’s resources make up mostly isolated self-sustaining rural communities. Households where social resource crafts predominate over natural resource crafts are urban societies with a developed industry, and with low self-sufficiency. Households that use a large number of craft practices involving all types of resources are represented by long-established urban and rural societies with a well-developed local economy. The economic sustainability of provincial societies, whose informal economy is based on different sources of resources, is discussed.
Acknowledgements
The article was prepared within the framework of the Academic Fund Program at the National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE) in 2017–2018 (grant no. 17-01-0027). And in 2019–2020 (grant no. 19-01-067) and by the Russian Academic Excellence Project “5-100”. This field research was initiated by prof. S.G. Kordonsky.
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