An Analysis of Income, Spending, and Financial Behavior of High-Income Groups in Russia

This article analyzes the income levels, expenditures, and financial behavior of high-income groups in Russia using microdata from the Rosstat Household Budget Survey (HBS). The study examines the 10th decile group as a whole and in greater detail by individual percentiles. A significant heterogeneity is identified within this group across a range of indicators (income, savings, loans, taxes, etc.), with a sharp increase in values observed at the 100th percentile. It is concluded that, according to the HBS data, only the top percentile of the 10th decile group (i.e., the top 1% of the population) can be classified as a high-income group. In order to study the specific characteristics of the income and financial behavior displayed by high-income groups, it is therefore necessary to focus on this specific household segment. The findings are relevant for designing tax policy, assessing social inequality, and forecasting economic dynamics.