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We examined the link between ethnic diversity and social capital to test Putnam’s hypothesis on the negative impact of ethnic diversity on social capital. Data came from a representative survey in two multicultural regions of Russia (N = 2,061). To assess the level of ethnic diversity, an ethnic diversity index was calculated using data from the latest National Population Census in Russia. Data were analyzed using two-level structural equation modeling. The results did not confirm Putnam’s hypothesis and showed that ethnic diversity, as assessed in the latest National Population Census in Russia, was not negatively related to social capital in Russia. We argue that the long-standing ethnic diversity in Russia is positively related to informal sociability, and does not affect generalized trust and community organizational life. It is concluded that Putnam’s hypothesis does not have universal validity, presumably because the link between diversity and social capital is moderated by various regional and national characteristics.

This paper analyses the relation between trust as the element of social capital and individual subjective life satisfaction. It answers the question of whether trustful people are happier than suspicious people. Using the concept of social capital, we consider three main types of trust: general, institutional and social. The article estimates the level of trust in Russia using data from value research in two federal districts in Russia. This research was conducted by the Centre for Comparative Social Research in summer 2012. The main hypothesis, that there a positive relationship between the level of trust and subjective life satisfaction, was tested using the method of structural equation modelling. JEL Classification: Z.

Objective of the study is to develop and test a methodology for assessing the degree of involvement in the use of ICT in various areas of life. Background. Modern social and physical environments are saturated with digital incentives that encourage people to get involved in interacting with these environments through information and communication technologies (ICT). However, to this date, there are no psychological instruments that comprehensively assess the involvement of individuals in the use of ICTs. Study design. The study was conducted using a socio-psychological survey. To measure involvement in the use of ICT, an authoring methodology was developed and validated. Participants. The study included two samples. The first sample included 859 respondents (average age 36.1 years; 32% of males). The second — 171 respondents (35% of males; age range from 25 to 44 years). Measurements. For data processing, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, Cronbach coefficient alpha, and correlation analysis were applied in the SPSS 19.0 and AMOS 20 programs. Results. Good results of confirmatory factor analysis indicate the presence of reliability-consistency of the methodology. The final version of the methodology includes 4 scales: “Economic actions on the Internet”, “Communication on social networks”, “Using a smartphone”, “A variety of areas of ICT use”. The empirical and external validity of this methodology was also evaluated, as a result of which we received confirmation of these types of validity from the developed methodology. Conclusions. The technique developed by the authors is reliable and valid and can be used both for research and for applied purposes.

The paper analyzes the relationship between private and public social transfers in Russia. The research relies on the data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey (RLMS-HSE) carried out by the Higher School of Economics in 1994–2018. The household is the unit of the analysis, the method of logistic regression is applied. The study has shown that when a household receives public social transfers, it is less likely to receive private transfers. So, the findings appear to bear out the hypothesis that public transfers crowd out private transfers in Russia.