RUDN Journal of SociologyRUDN Journal of Sociology2313-22722408-8897Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumamba2168710.22363/2313-2272-2019-19-3-543-552Research ArticleNon-standard work: Who wins? Theoretical-methodological analysis of the approaches to the study of non-standard employmentAnisimovR. I.ranisimov@list.ruRussian State University for Humanities1512201919354355211092019Copyright © 2019, Anisimov R.I.2019<p>The article considers main approaches to the study of non-standard labor relations. Based on the conceptual model proposed by C. Rakowski, three approaches to the analysis of non-standard labor relations are presented: structuralist, neo-Marxist, and legalist. The author identifies methodological limitations and heuristic potential of these approaches, and using statistical and sociological data claims that non-standard labor relations are widespread in Russia (from 32 to 59 million people). The article presents different estimates of non-standard labor relations: some authors focus on their advantages, others - on disadvantages depending on the ideological positions and the object of analysis. The author insists on the methodological confusion in the study of non-standard labor relations in the legalist approach which combines informal economy with non-standard employment, making it difficult to consider beneficiaries and victims of the emerging system. According to the studies, the benefits of non-standard labor relations are typical for entrepreneurs, while disadvantages - for employees. The author proposes to distinguish employees from non-standard labor relations and entrepreneurs in the informal economy, which allows to combine all concepts of non-standard labor relations and to identify winners and losers of such relations. The article also mentions reasons for the growth of non-standard labor relations: globalization, automatization of labor, changes of labor values, and social policy - under the evolution of capitalism as a historical system.</p>non-standard labor relationsinformal economycapitalismentrepreneuremployeeprecariatglobalizationlabor valuesautomationsocial policyнестандартные трудовые отношениянеформальный сектор экономикикапитализмпредпринимательнаемный работникпрекариатглобализацияценности трудаавтоматизациясоциальная политика[Bauman Z. Idet li bogatstvo nemnogih na polzu vsekh prochih? [Does the Richness of the Few Benefit Us All?]. Moscow; 2015 (in Russ.).][Biriukov A. Poyavlenie prekariata ili vozvrashchenie proletariata? [Emergence of precariat or return of proletariat?]. Sotsiologicheskie Issledovaniya. 2015; 10 (In Russ.).][Wallerstein I. Istorichesky kapitalizm. [Historical Capitalism]. Moscow; 2014 (In Russ.).][Collins R. Sredny klass bez raboty: vykhody zakryvayutsya [Middle class without work: Exits closed]. Est li buduschee u kapitalizma? Moscow; 2015 (In Russ.).][Creveld M. van. Rasczvet i upadok gosudarstva [The Rise and Decline of the State]. Moscow; 2006 (In Russ.).][Pink D. Natsiya svobodnykh agentov. Kak novye nezavisimye rabotniki menyayut zhizn Ameriki [Nation of Free Agents. How New Independent Workers Change the Life of America]. Moscow; 2005 (In Russ.).][Polanyi K. Velikaya transformatsiya: politicheskie i ekonomicheskie istoki nashego vremeni [The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Time]. Saint Peterburg; 2002 (In Russ.).][Rabochaya sila, zanyatost i bezrabotitsa v Rossii (po rezultatam vyborochnykh obsledovanij rabochej sily) [Labor Force, Employment and Unemployment in Russia (based on the sample labor force surveys)]. Moscow; 2018 (In Russ.).][Rakowski C.A. Konvergentsiya i divergentsiya v debatakh latinoamerikanistov o neformalnom sektore [Convergence and divergence in the Latin American debate on the informal sector]. Ekonomicheskaja Teorija Prestuplenij i Nakazanij. 2000; 2 (In Russ.).][Rossijsky monitoring ekonomicheskogo polozheniya i zdoroviya naseleniya NIU-VShE (RLMS-HSE) [Russian monitoring of the economic situation and public health by the HSE (RLMS-HSE)]. http://www.cpc.unc.edu/projects/rlms; http://www.hse.ru/rlms (In Russ.).][Rossijsky statistichesky ezhegodnik [Russian Statistical Yearbook]. Moscow: 2017 (In Russ.).][Standing G. Prekariat: novy opasny klass [The Precariat. The New Dangerous Class]. Moscow; 2014 (In Russ.).][Fedchenko A.A., Kolesnikova O.A., Dashkova Ye.S., Dorokhova N.V. Neformalnaya zanyatost: teoreticheskie osnovy, issledovanie, prognoz [Informal Employment: Theoretical Foundations, Research, Forecast]. Voronezh; 2016 (In Russ.).][Florida R. Kreativny klass. Lyudi, kotorye sozdayut buduschee [The Creative Class. People Who Create the Future]. Moscow; 2016 (In Russ.).]