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This timely book offers a fresh perspective on the issue of contemporary migratory labor, otkhodnichestvo, in Russia-the temporary departure of inhabitants from small towns and villages for short-term jobs in the major cities of Russia. Although otkhodnichestvo is a mass phenomenon, it is not reflected in official economic statistics.

Based on numerous interviews with otkhodniks and local experts, this stunningly original work focuses on the central and northern regions of European Russia. The authors draw a social portrait of the contemporary otkhodnik and offer a sociological assessment of the economic and political status these `wandering workers` live with.

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A really interesting book. Obvious are comparisons with other labor and social markets in China, the EU, and even in Australia. [...] Naturally, the local authorities do not concern themselves with these out-of-town workers, because they add nothing to their expenditure budgets but bring a lot into the spending side. Dr. Gregory R. Copley, author of "The Art of Victory" (2006) and "UnCivilization: Urban Geopolitics in a Time of Chaos" (2012), President of the International Strategic Studies Association, Washington, DC, USA

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Juri M. Plusnin is professor at the Department for Public Administration of the National Research University - Higher School of Economics (HSE), Moscow. Yana D. Zausaeva is an analyst at the Laboratory for Local Administration of the Higher School of Economics, Moscow. Natalia N. Zhidkevich is an analyst at the Laboratory for Local Administration of the Higher School of Economics, Moscow. Artemy A. Pozanenko is an analyst at the Laboratory for Local Administration of the Higher School of Economics, Moscow.

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