The structural perspective on postsocialist inequality: Job loss in Russia

The paper seeks to develop a structural approach to understanding post-socialist patterns of inequality, in distinction to the individual and institutional frameworks that have dominated the literature on the topic. Variation in exposure to job loss (layoff) of Russian hired workers from 1985 to 2001 is examined using employment histories from the Survey of Stratification and Migration Dynamics. The analysis focuses on the role of structural position (firm characteristics such as sector, industry, and size) in shaping job loss risk, both independently of individual characteristics such as experience, gender, and human capital and in interaction with these personal traits.