The article focuses on the study of relationship between trust and social inequality in Russian society. The methodological framework is an integrated multidisciplinary approach which combines sociological and economic theories. The research is based on official statistics and social surveys of international, national, and regional levels. The analysis shows that in Russia there is still excessive inequality (since 2003, the fund ratio has not dropped below 15 times, and the Ginny index is below 0.4). Using the method of two-dimensional distributions, we assessed the impact of social inequality on the level of generalized trust in Russia as a whole and the Vologda Oblast in particular. It was revealed that the Russian society is characterized by a low level of social trust and its increasing trends cannot be predicted. The existing mistrust is compounded by the stratification of society, persistence of significant differences in the level of well-being of the population, and the lack of mutual understanding between the poor and the rich. The article confirms the fact that the level of generalized trust depends on the economic component: with a decrease in well-being of the population, the level of mistrust grows. We conclude that the variables of inequality and trust form a vicious circle with poles of inversely proportional impact on each other. The practical task is to find a solution to the current situation. As a further research prospect, the article indicates the development of science-based proposals in solving the problem of the relationship between social inequality and public trust.
Citizens participation in elections is the most accessible and effective mechanism for society's influence on the political system. However, the problem of absenteeism (refusal to participate in elections) is currently characteristic for Russia and in particular for the Vologda region, which actualizes the task of determining ways to increase the electoral activity of citizens. One of these methods may be the activities of non-profit organizations. The purpose of the study is to determine the role of non-profit organizations in increasing the electoral activity of citizens. The information base of the study are legislative sources, official statistics, data from sociological surveys: regular monitoring of public opinion of residents of the Vologda region (n = 1500) and an expert survey of heads of non-profit organizations (n = 35). Main methods: system, comparative, statistical and sociological analysis. The key results of the study are as follows: the dominant form of absenteeism in the region is identified (distancing from the government, not its " tacit approval»); it is established that the activities of NPOs have a positive impact on the electoral activity of citizens; a number of recommendations have been formulated for authorities, as well as for non-profit organizations themselves, to involve NPOs in the electoral process.
Organizations of the non-profit sector have become a key agent in solving many issues of economic and social development at the regional level, having special competitive advantages. In this regard, their activities require regular diagnostics. The purpose of the study was to make a sociological diagnosis of the factors of development of the non-profit sector in the region. The information base of the study is represented by the data of two sociological surveys conducted on the territory of the Vologda Oblast, one of them is carried out in the monitoring mode. The sample size is 1500 people. We used the index method of evaluation and the method of analyzing the distribution of respondents' opinions by socio-demographic groups, depending on the selected components of the involvement of the region's population in the activities of non-profit organizations. The following private/sub-indices were calculated: public awareness of the activities of NPOs; participation in their work and trust in them; influence (significance) of NPOs on the development of the region. The integral index served as a generalizing indicator. It is concluded that the main factor hindering the development of the non-profit sector is the low level of participation in the activities of NPOs of the population of the region. It has been established that in the context of socio-demographic groups, the most significant factors are gender, education level, age and financial situation, in turn, the type of territory does not have a significant impact on the public recognition of the NPO sector. It was revealed that among Internet users the work of NPOs does not find a great response. In the long-term dynamics from 2013 to 2021, the regional community noted positive trends in terms of the involvement of the population in the practices of non-profit organizations and their support.
The study analyzes the institutional environment of associated collective actions of citizens on the example of the functioning of organizations of the non-profit sector, which is formed by the state and affects their work. Using the methods of economic-statistical, comparative and structural-logical analysis, the main trends in the provision of financial and property state support to socially oriented non-profit organizations at the federal, regional and municipal levels of government are identified. The study showed that state funding is carried out in two major areas – industry and grant (competitive). Problems of implementation of these directions are noted. It is determined that at the regional level, the form of competitive subsidies from the budgets of the subjects of the Russian Federation for the implementation of social projects by non-profit organizations prevails. In terms of state property support, it was found that more than half of the registered organizations do not have premises for carrying out their activities, while only 13% received it for free use from the state. The results of this discussion can be used by the authorities to make management decisions in the implementation of public policy aimed at the development of the non-profit sector.
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