| Description: |
This paper introduces a demand-side perspective to the study of workplace benefits, reporting how employees view the social benefits offered by many Russian enterprises. It draws upon a nationwide sample survey of Russian workers, the fourth New Russia Barometer. The first section shows the extent to which employers provide such employee benefits as housing, health care, holidays, etc., and they are not universally provided. Secondly, the study tests two alternative explanations of the allocation of benefits: they are demand determined, reflecting attributes of individuals in need, or supply determined, being provided to all employees of an enterprise, whether or not they show evidence of need. Regression analysis of survey data shows that benefits tend to be supply determined. Employees place a low valuation on the benefits that employers provide. Among ten different economic activities, workplace benefits rank next to the bottom in importance.
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