Vestnik Samarskogo universiteta. Ekonomika i upravlenie Vestnik of Samara University. Economics and ManagementVestnik Samarskogo universiteta. Ekonomika i upravlenie Vestnik of Samara University. Economics and Management2542-04612782-3008Samara National Research University864910.18287/2542-0461-2021-12-1-91-98Research ArticleConcept of the middle class and its features in RussiaZavodchikovaTamara B.<p>Candidate of Economic Sciences, associate professor, Department of General and Strategic Management</p>toma.zavod@gmail.comhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1158-1803MaznayaEkaterina A.<p>Candidate of Economic Sciences, associate professor of the Department of Economics</p>ekaterina_maznaya@mail.ruhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-3262-282XSamara National Research UniversitySamara State University of Social Sciences and Education2004202112191982004202120042021Copyright © 2021, Vestnik of Samara University. Economics and Management2021<p>The presence in society of a formed middle class, which makes up the majority of the country's population, is a guarantee of stability and sustainable development of state. It is the middle class that represents active economic entities that effectively implement the main economic functions and participate in socio-economic relations. The presence and formation of a middle class should be a priority task for the state. In the article, the authors explore various approaches to the concept and criteria of the middle class. The income characteristics of the middle class are analyzed (average per capita, median, modal incomes, income distribution of the population, indicators of income differentiation). The features of the middle class in modern Russia are revealed, among which there is a significant heterogeneity of the middle class, determined by regional specifics, social characteristics and social status. The ambiguity of the definition of the middle class, the lack of its clear criteria, and as a result, its significant heterogeneity in Russia, complicates the analysis and assessment of the middle class in our country, and, as a result, reduces the effectiveness of measures taken aimed at the formation and development of the middle class. It is necessary to understand that the extraordinary dynamism of the development of modern society, the digitalization of all spheres of socio-economic relations, the consequences associated with the fourth industrial revolution will greatly affect the structure of society, the conditions and standard of living of the entire population.</p>средний класскритерии среднего классадоходы населения, дифференциация и распределение доходов, бедностьmiddle classmiddle class criteriaincome of the population[1. Aristotle. Works: in 4 vols. Vol. 4. Moscow: Mysl', 1983, pp. 376–644. Available at: http://][rudocs.exdat.com/docs/index-515662.html?page=4. (In Russ.)][2. Weber M. Basic concepts of social stratification. Sociological Studies, 1994, no. 5, pp. 150–156. Available at: http://ecsocman.hse.ru/data/254/578/1217/020_veber.pdf. (In Russ.)][3. Euripides. The Suppliants. Available at: http://lib.ru/POEEAST/EVRIPID/evripid1_6.txt. (In Russ.)][4. Marx K. Essays: in 9 vols. Vol. 4. Moscow: Politizdat, 1986, 505 p. Available at: http://][www.uaio.ru/marx/04.htm. (In Russ.)][5. Pososhkov I.T. Аbout poverty and wealth: monograph. Moscow: Direkt-Media, 2007, 257 p. Available at: http://biblioclub.ru/index.php?page=book&id=26839 (accessed 15.07.2020). (In Russ.)][6. Population distribution by average per capita money income, time series. Available at: https://][www.gks.ru/folder/13397 (accessed 14.07.2020). (In Russ.)][7. Distribution of total money income and characteristics of differentiation of population incomes. Available at: https://www.gks.ru/folder/13723 (accessed 14.07.2020). (In Russ.)][8. Average, median and modal level of monetary income of the population as a whole in Russia and in the Subjects of the Russian Federation for 2019. Available at: https://www.gks.ru/free_doc/new_site/][population/bednost/tabl/tab-bed1-2-6.htm. (In Russ.)][9. Tikhonova N.E. Russian middle class in the focus of different theoretical approaches: boundaries, composition and specificity. In: Proceedings of the Russian-French conference "Middle class dynamics: between expansion and uncertainty". October 3, 2019. Available at: https://isp.hse.ru/data/2019/10/04/1541835897/03%20Natalia%][20Tikhinova_03-10-2019_RU.pdf. (In Russ.)][10. Toynbee A. A Study of History. Moscow: INFRA-M, 1991, 360 p. Available at: https://][bookscafe.net/read/toynbi_arnold-postizhenie_istorii-75129.html#p1.][11. Global wealth report. Available at: https://www.credit-suisse.com/about-us/en/reports-research/global-wealth-report.html.][12. A global tipping point: Half the world is now middle class or wealthier. Available at: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/future-development/2018/09/27/a-global-tipping-point-half-the-world-is-now-middle-class-or-wealthier.]