38
39 In other words, we can consider that the level of social capital in Russian towns and cities is exceptionally low, which ties in with the scores about doing business here. Business develops in the cities where there is a highlevel of institutional trust, where social capital is well-developed and can create pools of information and competencies. This picture has little in common with Russian regional centres today.
Four types of urban residents Cluster analysis of the pattern of relationships citizens have with their urban environments allowed us to identify four types of modern urban residents. The four groups seemed to be joined by factors that were independent of socio-demographic characteristics e.g. level of education, marital status, presence of children, sex/age composition. The groups are organised on a principally different basis that might be summarised as valueenvironmental grounds. The first group, which takes in 32.2% of the overall number of respondents from all towns and cities, is made up of people who might be called «citizens» due to their clearly formalised relationship to the urban environment, as well as their focus on socialising and community. In the main this group is interested by work, education, leisure and public services. They consider it important that the place where they live has good academic institutions and vocational-technical schools, a large number of convenience stores and large shopping centres. They enjoy going to cafes and restaurants, theatres, museums, exhibitions, ice rinks and stadiums — that is, to places where you can spend free time with friends, relatives, or alone. It is interesting that this group is the most likely to turn to other people for assistance in solving various problems (37.8%). They are also not indifferent to the external face of the city, to the condition of public squares, parks and courtyards; they support the development of pedestrian infrastructure. One third of this group spends time at home with families, on the Internet or shopping in large shopping centres. More than any other group, the “citizens» enjoy travelling and visiting cinemas, museums and shops. This group tends to gravitate to the central parts of town, actively move around the city and are highly sensitive to the urban environment: they perceive the aesthetic component of the urban environment more keenly than others; and likewise value the diversity of opportunities offered in a city. These people are least interested in the suburb environment, as they are in local government.
Almost 60% of respondents believe it is difficult to do business in their cities
This first group is relatively young and boasts the highest percentage of people with higher education (65,3%). The majority of respondents in this group earn up to 50,000 rubles per month ($10,000), but it also in this group that you find the largest percentage of people earning between 50,000 and 100,000 rubles ($10-20,000). The second group are also “citizens”, but have a different range of environmental preferences. 22.2% of our respondents could be classified as belonging to this group. Much more than citizens of the first group, they are concerned with quality of life issues, the suburban environment, housing services, rental costs and buying property. They are interested to a greater degree in the quality of courtyards, parks and public squares. This group brings together citizens of the urban periphery - they commute to work, either to the centre or to other city districts. As a result of this, the cost and quality of public transport are of great significance. This is an average group in respect of age and income per family member (from 15,000 to 25,000 rubles, $350-$550). There more likely than the first group to participate in communal moves to improve their neigbourhoods, including taking part in cleaning shared spaces, but are in many respects similar when it comes to the diversity of urban practices and understanding of the urban environment. Our third group might not be considered «citizens» as such. This group does not exhibit any clear environmental preferences, emotional attachments or strategies when it comes to urban behaviour. Their defining characteristic is instead passivity. This is the largest group, evaluated at 42% of the total. Respondents in this group value most of all employment opportunities, high salaries, and also good kindergartens, schools and clinics. This group has minimal other requirements when it comes to the quality of the urban environment, whether that be on issues of leisure opportunities or public transport. Most often they will look for work close to their home or in their own neighbourhood. Respondents in this group are rarely
Business prospers where there is a high level of social capital