A living wage is such a level of earnings that can provide basic human needs in basic living conditions. In Russia, this indicator is calculated on the basis of the minimum annual consumer basket. It includes some products, goods and services. The products include: 126.5 kg of bread, cereals and pasta, 100 kg of potatoes, 58 kg of meat, 210 eggs, 60 kg of fruit. Also included in the basket are sugar and sweets, dairy products, eggs, fish, butter of various types, tea, coffee and spices.
The total cost of non-food items is 50% of the cost of the grocery set. The cost of services is also calculated (transport + communal).
The indicator is determined for each region and each social group separately. Total social groups 3: children, able-bodied citizens and pensioners. The smallest amount is due to pensioners.
The value of this indicator is taken as the basis for statistical reporting and some payments. In fact, each person has individual needs. The size of the living wage of the able-bodied population is greater than that of other social groups.
Equal to the minimum wage
The idea of equating the minimum wage to the cost of living has existed since 2002. In 2014, more specific dates were indicated: October 1, 2017. However, this was not done, since from January 1, 2018, the minimum wage was only 85% of the subsistence level. But since May of this year, it should be equal to the cost of living. It is difficult to say whether this decision is being implemented in reality. However, the lowest salary figures indicated in the vacancies of the Employment Center, with rare exceptions, correspond to the cost of living.
Why do I need a living wage
The indicator allows you to create a statistical base on the approximate standard of living of the population and influence the adoption of some decisions. It has the following objectives:
- To assess the standard of living and income of the population of a country or a specific subject, which is required in the development and implementation of various socially oriented programs.
- To establish an adequate level of the minimum wage and the amount of pensions, scholarships, allowances and other payments.
- Affect the development of the federal budget and the budget of the subjects of the federation.
- Establish the amount of necessary social assistance to low-income citizens.
The adequacy of the cost of living
Many residents believe that living on such an amount is quite problematic. The same opinion is shared by many experts. So, Vyacheslav Bobkov believes that the real value of the indicator in Russia should be 2-2.5 times larger than the officially established one. In his opinion, the current understatement is due to the unwillingness of the authorities to increase the social burden on the budget.
Cost of living in 2018
The size of the content should increase following inflation. In 2018, he amounted to:
- On average per person - 10,328 rubles.
- The living wage of the able-bodied population is 11,160 rubles.
- For the elderly - 8496 rubles.
- For a child - 10181 rubles.
In the regions, the largest indicator is in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, where it is 20,622 rubles. Also in Chukotka, where it is equal to 20149 rubles.
The low level is in the Republic of Mordovia (7824 rubles) and some other regions. All this speaks of large regional differences in the cost of living.
Of course, in rich regions the indicator will be higher than in poor regions. Other factors can also influence: price level, climatic conditions, etc. In Moscow, this amount is 15397 rubles. This is significantly more than the national average.
Thus, the subsistence level of the able-bodied population in 2018 was more than 11 thousand rubles. Pensioners have much less.
Can I live?
This question is asked by many, and some try to answer it by putting experiments on themselves. Although in fact, the minimum wage is a common phenomenon, but because for many, nothing else remains.
A teacher from Sterlitamak Dara Goldberg tried to live on these funds at will for six months. That was in 2017. In principle, she succeeded, but there were a lot of deprivations. She had to save on almost everything, including a haircut and shampoos. From the goodies she was forced to refuse altogether. As with any paid entertainment, including movies. I cooked only from the simplest products: cereals, potatoes, etc. True, I had to go and tricks: to fish, pick mushrooms. Without this, she says, it was impossible to maintain oneself in normal physical shape. But she is a woman with a weight of only 45 kg. Can a healthy, working man weigh 75 pounds eat this way?
She almost did not pay the utility bill - she lives in a hostel. Soap was stolen in a public toilet. There were problems with clothes - she was clearly not enough. He says that she felt like an animal, whose life is reduced to the satisfaction of only basic physiological needs.
At the same time, she does not imagine how a sick person who needs a lot of medicines can reach a living wage of a pensioner. Or an employee who has to spend a lot on transportation to get to work. Or a child who needs to change clothes often, as he grows up.
As a result, her conclusions are not comforting: living at a living wage is harmful to human health and the psyche. And its main advantage is the acquisition of saving skills. However, we must assume that in regions where the minimum is higher, living on it will be easier.
Conclusion
Thus, this is an important statistical indicator on which different payments depend. The cost of living of the able-bodied population of the region can differ greatly from the average (federal) level.