Russia’s Bureaucratic Composition Raises Concerns

A recent study by Russia’s Goskomstat has shed light on the composition of employees holding state and municipal positions in Russia. The data, collected on January 1, 2002, reveals a significant imbalance in the country’s bureaucracy.

Imbalance in Bureaucratic Composition

According to the report, only 1.2 percent of Russia’s labor force is employed in public administration, compared to an average of 10.0 percent among twenty-one Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. While the overall size of Russia’s bureaucracy may be small, the issue lies in its composition.

• Significant disparities in the number of bureaucrats across different regions
• Some regions have a high concentration of bureaucrats, while others have relatively few

Regional Inequality and Corruption

The report has sparked concerns about regional inequality and corruption in Russia. The data shows that some regions, such as Tatarstan and Bashkortostan, have a high concentration of bureaucrats, while others, like Primorskii Krai, are plagued by criminality.

• Experts argue that the lack of transparency and accountability within these regions can lead to further entrenchment of corruption and regional inequality
• The World Bank has found that twenty-three large private owners control 38 percent of employment and 36 percent of sales in their sample of thirteen hundred large firms, highlighting the need for reforms to promote fair competition

Conclusion

The study by Russia’s Goskomstat highlights the need for reforms to improve governance and reduce corruption within the country’s bureaucracy. The data suggests that there are significant disparities in the number of bureaucrats across different regions, leading to unequal distribution of resources and opportunities.

To address these issues, experts recommend:

• Increasing transparency and accountability within the bureaucracy
• Promoting fair competition
• Addressing regional inequality

Sources

• Goskomstat, Regiony Rossii: sotsial’no-ekonomicheskie pokazateli, 2003
• World Bank, “From Transition to Development: A Country Economic Memorandum for the Russian Federation”
• Transparency International—Russia, “The Methods Applied to Implement the Project ‘Indices of Corruption in Russia’s Regions’”
• Kotkin and Sajó, eds., Corruption in Transition