Ekaterina Borisova

Who To Help? Trust And Preferences Over Redistribution In Russia

Who will you help if you have a higher level of interpersonal trust? In a set of surveys of about 34,000 individuals done in 2007-2011 in Russia we show that higher levels of trust in a region are connected with more support for government redistribution in favour of those who performed services for their homeland (war veterans, distinguished teachers, doctors). Less demand for government support is found for the poor, the homeless, those having many children and others in difficult life situations as people expect help from others, i.e. that social capital substitute for the government. Overall higher trust could have outcomes that could not be interpreted as good for everybody. Promoting growth policies should account for it otherwise they could be counterproductive.

Social Capital and Support for the Welfare State in Russia

Abstract Few tasks are more important in a post-communist setting than rebuilding the welfare state. We study individual preferences for increasing social welfare spending to reduce inequality. Using two surveys of about 34,000 and 37,000 Russians, we show the great importance of the “bridging” type of social capital for redistribution preferences in Russia, as it precludes possibilities of cheating and free-riding on the welfare state. Instrumenting social capital with education, climate, and distance from Moscow, we deal with endogeneity concerns and also contribute to our understanding of the deep roots of social capital in Russia. We claim that social capital in post-socialist countries could help mobilize public support for redistribution even where institutions are weak.

Decision to Make a HOA: Does Collective Action Paradox Matter?

Ability to make collective agreements determines life of many organizations. But does it matter for the decision to make a new organization? On the data of 82 homeowners associations (HOAs) in Moscow and Perm factors that underpin HOA formation are studied. A logit-regression analysis is used. Ability of tenants to resolve the collective action problem in operating housing infrastructure shows its importance along with the physical characteristics of an apartment building. Thus HOA formation by homeowners is a signal of their ability to manage a house. Collective action paradox begins to play role not only ex post, but also ex ante, prior to organization’s establishment.