We examine whether regional sectoral employment structure helps explain cross-regional variation in individualism–collectivism (IC) beyond income. Using a representative CATI survey of more than 18,000 respondents from 60 Russian regions (2019–2020) linked to employment statistics, we estimate OLS models of regional IC with log GRP per capita and controls (inequality, education, life expectancy, latitude, political openness). We find that agricultural employment shares are negatively associated with IC, whereas service/post-industrial shares are positively associated, net of income; industry shows mixed patterns. Conceptually, we distinguish two possible channels from economic structure to values—(i) a material-security channel (income effects) and (ii) an organizational-logic channel (workplace micro-contexts of autonomy, interdependence, and monitoring). Empirically, we focus on the second pathway and treat income as a covariate rather than a mediator. The findings suggest that how work is organized may matter for regional value profiles in addition to prosperity. Results are robust to alternative IC measure.

This paper attempts to model the evolutionary theory of modernization and democratization. The model reflects the key provisions of R. Inglehart and C. Welzel's theory and provides a microfoundation for the adaptation of subjective values to the objective importances of the survival factors and the structure of the labour markets from the perspective of evolutionary theory and rational-emotional choice. We consider an optimization problem of a representative agent allocating their time between production of private goods (participation in the economy), distribution of public goods (participation in politics), and leisure. Thus, the long-term dynamics of the allocation of society's time resources can be explained by technological progress (reduction in the labour intensity of production), social progress (increasing effectiveness of political institutions), and structural changes in the labour markets (altering importances of work, politics, and leisure). In addition, the model developed in the paper reflects the phenomenon of hedonic adaptation and the resulting Easterlin paradox, explains the modern trend towards a higher share of the government in the economy, and illustrates the democratic congruence theory by C. Welzel. The key implications of the model are tested against data from the WVS/EVS and other sources.