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The article examines the economic condition, life styles, and economic and political orientations of the social stratum which identifies itself with the middle class. In particular, based on results of empirical social studies, it is demonstrated that this stratum is heterogeneous enough. Moreover, the differentiation within this subjective class by economic conditions of life (incomes, provision with property) and self-estimate is higher than by economic and political orientations. The economic crises deteriorated the situation of those who affiliate themselves with the middle class but has not changed the scale of selfidentification. Although Russia does not very sufficiently differ from advanced industrial countries by the scale of self-identification with the middle class, by the objective characteristics of standard of living and self-estimates of own social status, only a considerably small part of the subjective middle class can be considered a prototype of Russia's future middle class. ; The article examines the economic condition, life styles, and economic and political orientations of the social stratum which identifies itself with the middle class. In particular, based on results of empirical social studies, it is demonstrated that this stratum is heterogeneous enough. Moreover, the differentiation within this subjective class by economic conditions of life (incomes, provision with property) and self-estimate is higher than by economic and political orientations. The economic crises deteriorated the situation of those who affiliate themselves with the middle class but has not changed the scale of selfidentification. Although Russia does not very sufficiently differ from advanced industrial countries by the scale of self-identification with the middle class, by the objective characteristics of standard of living and self-estimates of own social status, only a considerably small part of the subjective middle class can be considered a prototype of Russia's future middle class.

6. The article analyses data of VCIOM surveys related to the population's attitude toward some aspects of social protection. In particular, it demonstrates that paternalist orientations are not as wide-spread as it is assumed. A considerable part of the population thinks that in ordeFto secure life in the old age a person must have own sources of income (money, property, realty), although the government should not be relieved of the care about retired people. As regards privileges and allowances appropriated from the budget, poverty and economic vulnerability are recognised in the public opinion as a sufficient ground to receive them. Individual merits and official positions are not any more such a justifiable ground for getting privileges and allowances. As to housing and communal reform, low incomes and continuously delayed wage payments are a serious obstacle for more than two-thirds of the population to increase expenditure on accommodation from the family budgets. On the whole, there are prerequisites for reforming the system of social protection on the part of the population, but the method of "shock therapy" is hardly applicable in this area because of poor economic and psychological resources of the population. ; 6. The article analyses data of VCIOM surveys related to the population's attitude toward some aspects of social protection. In particular, it demonstrates that paternalist orientations are not as wide-spread as it is assumed. A considerable part of the population thinks that in ordeFto secure life in the old age a person must have own sources of income (money, property, realty), although the government should not be relieved of the care about retired people. As regards privileges and allowances appropriated from the budget, poverty and economic vulnerability are recognised in the public opinion as a sufficient ground to receive them. Individual merits and official positions are not any more such a justifiable ground for getting privileges and allowances. As to housing and communal reform, low incomes and continuously delayed wage payments are a serious obstacle for more than two-thirds of the population to increase expenditure on accommodation from the family budgets. On the whole, there are prerequisites for reforming the system of social protection on the part of the population, but the method of "shock therapy" is hardly applicable in this area because of poor economic and psychological resources of the population.