Russians Say Income Inequality Far Too Great and Now a Societal Problem, Moscow Sociologist Reports

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Sept. 22 – The overwhelming majority of Russians now say that inequality in incomes, ownership of property, and access to medical care is far too large in their country and that these things are now societal problems that should be addressed to correct such injustice, according to Svetlana Mareyeva.

            The scholar at the Institute of Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences says that her polling shows that Russians believe such problems must be addressed even in cases when they are not seriously affected personally (ng.ru/economics/2025-09-21/1_4_9342_inequality.html).

            Mareyeva says her surveys have found that 72 percent of Russians agree with the statement that “differences in incomes in Russia are now too great,” and 20.3 percent more say they agree with that statement at least in part. Only 7.8 percent say that they disagree with that assertion.

            Here findings suggest that there is a large portion of the Russian population that is concerned about inequality and wants to see it limited, something that the Kremlin cannot afford to ignore lest opposition parties take up the theme in the upcoming round of Duma elections next year.