Territorial Mobility of the Russian Population Within Social Dynamics
The article views working-age citizens moving to other localities with a perspective on social mobility, by which we mean raising educational attainment, improving economic well-being or advancing in careers compared to the relevant characteristics of the generation before them. Migration is a powerful social elevator: seeking to improve their economic and social status, people are motivated to change place of residence. This study's objective is to estimate the impact of relocation on social dynamics by basing on the regular all-Russian sociological survey «Person, Family, Society». An analysis of the territorial mobility of strata based on three equilibrium criteria - material, socio-professional and subjective - showed that the middle class is the least mobile one. Members of the lower class exhibited the most intensive territorial mobility. People most often relocate for family reasons, and this migration is most typical of the lower class. A hypothesis that any territorial mobility has a positive impact on socio-economic growth relative to the previous generation is not confirmed. However, moving to study does accompany intergenerational education and employment mobility, whereas relocating for family reasons, other things being equal, reduces a person’s chances of surpassing their parents in economic well-being and educational attainment.