Did the Poor Adapt to Their Circumstances? Evidence from Long-run Russian Panel Data

Very few studies currently exist on poverty adaptation to subjective well-being. We offer analysis on poverty adaptation for Russia, a middle-income country in transition, using panel data for 2001-2017. We found no poverty adaption for life satisfaction and subjective wealth, with longer poverty spells being associated with more dissatisfaction. Similar results hold for other outcomes including satisfaction with own economic conditions, work contract, job, pay, and career, and for poverty defined using either absolute or relative thresholds. Some evidence indicates that while those living in rural areas or born outside of Russia have similar levels of poverty adaptation for life satisfaction, they may adapt less regarding subjective wealth. There is also some evidence that women may be less adaptive than men, particularly for longer poverty duration.