Social and economic potential of Azerbaijani migrants who entered Russia in 2014-2017

Abstract

The article analyzes social and economic features, employment, well-being and housing conditions of the Azerbaijani migrants who came to Russia in 2014-2017. The empirical basis of the study is the data of a Russian nationwide survey of migrants. The survey was conducted by the National Research University Higher School of Economics and the Centre for Inter-Ethnic Studies in 19 subjects of the Russian Federation. A total of 8,577 respondents were interviewed; 4.5% of them were Azerbaijanis (388 respondents).  To assess the integration resources of the Azerbaijani migrants the author examines their status as compared to other migrants and the local population. The study reveals that, unlike Central Asian ethnic groups, Azerbaijanis have more favorable positions in all spheres of social life, and it proves their high integration potential especially in a demanding Russian society. This in turn decreases the importance of their cultural distinctiveness and facilitates further integration and immersion in the local communities.

Acknowledgment. The study was part of the projects carried out by the Centre for Inter-Ethnic Studies of the Institute of Sociology (Russian Academy of Sciences).