Commissioned educational and scientific works as a freelance activity: socio-economic aspects
Commissioned educational and scientific works as a freelance activity: socio-economic aspects

Summary/Abstract: Nowadays, a large segment of shadow economy is related to educational and scientific works to order. It is characterized by significant demand. Special types of social and economic entities, their practices and interactions are formed in the structure of this market. However, meaningful characteristics of such employment are virtually unexplored. It can be noted that the place of this employment in the general context of freelance is not sufficiently studied. Its professional structure, its specifics and financial and economic characteristics, as well as social values and attitudes of performers of commissioned works, are not sufficiently studied. This paper is aimed at filling these gaps. The purpose of the paper is a socio-economic analysis of employment in preparing commissioned educational and scientific works. The results of the author’s sociological study (an expert survey of work performers, N = 48), as well as statistical and secondary sociological data are given. Social and economic parameters of preparing commissioned educational and scientific works are considered. An analysis of economic characteristics of commissioned educational and scientific works was carried out; a typology of motivations of this employment is given. The author concludes that preparation of commissioned works has social and economic attractiveness for performers in the general context of informal employment. Mechanisms for professionalization and continuation of this activity are being formed, which has an impact on market and educational institutions.

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