2002. Vol. 3. No. 5

This is a methodological work. One of the main terms is thoroughly discussed here about which we do not think but have constant latent difficulties. The author gives the definition of economics, discloses the constitution elements of economic action, compares economically conditioned and economically oriented actions, and formulates the peculiarities of economic-sociological approach to this subject.   

A new labour Code was accepted in the country. Should we expect other labour practices from Russians? Is it able to shrink the shadow labour market? What strategies of decreasing the shadow employment are in this labour code? Do the authorities aspirations correspond to the people’s expectations. How loyal are the people themselves to the shadow labour market? The paper deals with the issues of labour law and analyzes the ability of the new Labour Code to restrain the shadow processes and the people readiness to support the authorities’ intentions or to stay for the illegal labour practices.  The author compares the two versions of the Labour Code projects – the one from the government and that one from trade unions.

The author analyzes the economic policy of the crime groups and the career of a force entrepreneur with the help of case studies. The examples of Tambov and Uralmash groups are given to illustrate the evolution of the informal force structures.   

The text is devoted to the cultural capital (and its three main states: incorporation, objectification, institutionalization) and social capital. The author analyzes the issues of transfer and reproduction of these types of capital and their connection with individual and group. At the end of the paper the author focuses on the conversion phenomenon when one type of the capital turns to another. The author claims that economic capital is the basis for all other types of capitals. 

One of the most important consequences of the democratic changes in the trade unions is the acquisition of the considerable financial and organizational freedom by the primary organizations. At the same time the transformation of relations inside the trade unions’ structure is going on. One of the new features links to the change of the role and place of the primary organization. The main theoretical approach of the paper is that the autonomy of the primary organization is due to the different interests of the low level managers and trade unions’ structures of high level.  The author analyzes this hypothesis on the basis of the example of the trade unions’ decision on financial questions and the settlement of authoritative relations. Empirical data is used. 

The paper deals with the different research approaches to the internet employment. Going from the concept of “new economics” the author tries to consider the employment in the Internet from the position of network analysis and the concept of strong and weak ties.  The different forms of Internet employment are analyzed in the paper, as well as social and professional characteristics of those employed by internet. The author draws the boundaries of the internet employment and analyzes the ratio of inside/outside labour market in the internet. The author concludes that internet employment is a developing phenomenon and proposes the further steps of its investigation.