ABSTRACT
Every society has inequality, although the predominant types of inequality and magnitude differ. In Soviet society the value of a profession was more or less guided by party ideology. This system of position imputed value to education and skill, and generally speaking the higher educated and more skilled were paid more, although for managerial positions ideological considerations and patron loyalty also played a role. Employment income was based upon the party’s valuation of a position, although as shown in Chapter 1 income differentiation was not high by comparative standards.
