Geographical Differentiation in Household Plot Production in Rural Russia

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Abstract
Using survey data from rural rayons in four oblasts, the authors show that household production, formerly personal subsidiary agriculture, is geographically differentiated in post-Soviet Russia. They argue that the common tendency to view household production as an adaptive response by those especially vulnerable to economic shocks of the transition does not do justice to the diversity of its forms and, in particular, overlooks a growing commercialization of the sector. Factors such as distance from the market, the physical environment, and "cultural-ethnic" factors influence production in the household sector, including the ability of different groups of producers to compete in the market. Journal of Economic Literature, Classification Numbers: O18, Q10, Q15. 4 figures, 9 tables, 35 references.