SOCIAL INEQUALITY IN CONTEMPORARY RUSSIA: ORIGINS, EVALUATION, BARRIERS

The objective of the paper is to evaluate the level of social stratification as the key issue of the contemporary Russian society. Methodological basis of the research are both general scientific cognition methods and particular methods for evaluation of social inequality (index numbers, expert evaluation, graphic method). The paper discusses questions associated with causes generating social inequality. Regional social inequality is evaluated. The research has shown that at present, the society faces social polarization of the population conditioned by the cumulative nature of social processes. The research findings can be used by the state authorities for substantiating social policy, in elaborating social and economic development programs and strategies.