The Migration Component of the Labor Market in Major Russian Cities

Beginning in the 1950s, major cities and megalopolises worldwide became a huge magnet for migration. In its most general outlines, such a “gravitation effect” is due to two factors. First, it is linked to the existence of a very large and diverse labor market, overall effective demand, and, consequently, opportunities to earn greater income (in comparison with medium-size and small towns) from the same kind of work. Given the administrative and political realities of Russia, additional advantages include the chance to “hide out,” “get lost in the crowd,” and to live and work without being registered or a citizen. Second, as a result of the demographic transition, urban agglomerations were the first to come up against depopulation. And in this aspect, as well, Russia is certainly following in the footsteps of the Western world: problems of depopulation and aging in the center and in the northwestern part of the country, where most of the major cities are located, are very serious. And

Development economics · Economic geography · Economic growth · Economics · Geography · Political science · Politics · Urban agglomeration · Regional Socio-Economic Development Trends