Working papers / Unpublished works

This study examines the role of family connections in shaping access to elite positions in the Russian Empire, focusing on the military and civilian sectors in the 19th and early 20th centuries. By examining the impact of having a father in the military or civilian elite, the study investigates how these family connections affected the speed and likelihood of promotion to elite positions in these two spheres. A comparative framework is used to assess which sector—military or civilian—was most strongly influenced by family connections, and how these sectors were interrelated in terms of elite promotion.

The study creates a new dataset of generals and high-ranking officials in the Russian Empire, using these data to analyze the impact of a father’s elite status on the career trajectory of his child.

Preliminary results show that father’s status as a general or high-ranking official significantly increased the likelihood of promotion to the top ranks. However, this effect weakened over the course of the 19th century. The study highlights the long-term influence of family connections on military promotions, revealing a more consistent and pronounced effect in the military sector compared to the civilian elite. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that perpetuate elite status across generations.

TBU: Inequality in the middle of 19th century

TBU: GDP in the middle of 19th century