Evolution of the Regulatory and Legal Basis for Payment and Incentives for the Work of Scientific Workers in the USSR and the Russian Federation

Introduction. The article assesses the state of development of the research subject — the evolution of the regulatory and legal framework for remuneration and motivation of scientific workers in the Soviet period (late 1920s — December 26, 1991, the date of the collapse of the USSR) and in the Russian Federation (December 26, 1991 — present); summarises and characterises the legal measures taken by the country's leadership to improve the remuneration and motivation system for scientific workers in the USSR and the Russian Federation. Methods. Using structural and legal and comparative and legal methods, an analysis was conducted of the main regulations of this base, regulating payment and incentives for the work of scientific workers. Results and Discussion. The evolution of the regulation base is systematically presented, a comparison is made between payment and incentives for scientific workers in the USSR and the Russian Federation; values are established for differentiation of payment for scientific workers in the USSR and the Russian Federation; basic norms regulating payment and incentives are analysed; changes to the regulation base in Russia are shown in connection with the adoption of the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 7, 2012, No. 597; significant differences in payment and incentives for scientific workers in the USSR and the Russian Federation are identified using local regulations from one of the research institutes as an example. Conclusion. Recommendations are provided for improving the efficiency of scientific workers in modern conditions.