The Transformation of Typology of Russian Households by Involvement in Private Transfers from 2011 to 2015

The period from 2014 to 2015 is known as the currency crisis in Russia – a sharp weakening of the Russian ruble against foreign currencies on the background of a decline in world oil prices. In this study we attempted to find out whether private transfers were a measure of support in a crisis year of 2015: whether the proportion of households that participate in the exchange processes and the volumes of material mutual assistance were increased in comparison with the year of economic stability. The study of private transfers is important from the point of view of social policy because the planning of social expenditures depends on an understanding of the algorithm for the redistribution of material resources in society. Identifying the presence or absence, directions and volumes of private transfers, one can catch the mechanism of social policy, in which it will be the most effective. The result of analyzing the data of ‘The Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey’ for 2011 and 2015 was the conclusion that in the crisis year the proportion of households that are involved in the exchange process has increased, while the average volumes of transfers have decreased. In addition, since 2011 the typology of Russian households by involvement in private transfers has changed, but rather quantitative than meaningfully. The main factors that influence private transfers in both 2011 and 2015 were the age of the head of household, the availability of higher education for household members, the type of family and the number of employed people in the household.