Determinants of begging

Introduction. Begging of modern times is not associated any more with such notions as deprivation, poverty, homelessness and unemployment. Begging is one of the ways of parasitizing on human mercy and naivety (those really in need for material support make up 5-10%, and in Moscow and St Petersburg this level is even lower and does not exceed 2-3%). The authors consider the determinants which facilitate spread of begging as a form of fraud and reveal the determinants of organized begging. Materials and Methods. The research is based on the results of questioning of 750 Omsk citizens of a middle age (from 31 to 40 years). The survey was conducted from October to November in 2018. The methodological tools include general and particular methods of cognition of objective reality (dialectical, comparative, analysis, formal juridical). Results and Discussion. According to the respondents the main cause of begging is a historically developed favourable attitude of citizens to it. It can be explained by the mentality of the Russians which preserves a humane attitude towards those in need. The primary causes of begging are as follows: alcoholism, drug addiction and parasitic lifestyle. The weakened social policy of the state in connection with the decline in moral standards have led to the situation when able-bodied citizens resort to begging without any embarrassment and shame. The article also comprises such causes of begging as developed Internet technologies, drawbacks in the legal basis of counteracting begging and in law enforcement, migration. Conclusions. At present begging is determined more by the subjective causes such as citizens’ favourable attitude to beggars, alcoholism, drug addiction and parasitic lifestyle. The number of beggars has recently increased due to the wide spread of Internet technologies.