In Russia, the share of citizens who are loyal to “gray” wages has increased
According to VTsIOM, 46 percent of Russians are sympathetic to salaries in envelopes
Quick Look
- The share of Russians who are loyal to paying “gray” wages increased to 46% in 2024 compared to 42% in 2023, according to a VTsIOM survey.
- Men, young people and residents of megacities show high loyalty.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Results of a poll by VTsIOM on the attitude of Russians to unofficial wages.
Almost half of Russians are generally tolerant of “gray” salaries (salaries in an envelope). This is evidenced by the results of a survey conducted by employees of the All-Russian Center for the Study of Public Opinion (VTsIOM).
The study revealed that 46 percent of citizens are sympathetic to this payment format. By comparison, in 2023 the figure was estimated at 42 percent. Thus, over the past three years, the share of citizens loyal to “gray” wages has increased by 4 percentage points (pp).
The proportion of men who understand payments in an envelope is higher than among women, the authors of the study noted. Experts also recorded high loyalty to envelope salaries among representatives of digital generations (60 percent) and residents of megacities (58 percent).
Nine percent of citizens now receive “gray” wages, noted VTsIOM. Over the past 20 years, the figure has decreased significantly, but is still quite noticeable.
Open Questions
- What are the main reasons for the growth of loyalty to gray salaries?
- In which industries are such payments most common?
