The relevance of the researched problem is connected with the high level of economic inequality in Russia. The article goal is to show that the current Russian institutional system is not directed to decrease the economic inequality but on the contrary it continues to make and deepen it. The leading approach to study of this problem is the analysis of social institutes, formal and informal regulations which promote keeping on economic inequality in the country. The results of sociological surveys of the Russian research centers confirm sharpness of this problem. The economic inequality laid its foundation due to the transition to the market in the period of privatization and price liberalization in the 90's of the twentieth century. Among the factors which aggravate the problem of economic inequality in contemporary Russia there is a rent-seeking behavior of major market players and regressive tax system. The materials can be used to assess the prospects and consequences of large-scale reforms in the transition economies. The experience of the Russian market transformation is useful not only for developing countries but for all the rest of the world.