What is the country's economic stability? Of course, in the quality of life of its citizens. Why is the low standard of living in Russia, according to experts, absolutely logical? Is not everyone living well in Russia? You should understand this issue.
What does the indicator of living standards indicate?
The standard of living of the people is the amount of material wealth per capita. This indicator can be characterized by taking into account many parameters reflecting various signs. This is one of the main tasks in our country, and to determine the success of the state as a whole, it is necessary to analyze its indicators in individual regions. This is done by rating companies, of which there are many in Russia. They study this area in detail, taking into account all possible aspects, both collectively and individually, trying to find out why there is a low standard of living in Russia.
To track this indicator, the schedule of ups and downs, experts have developed many different methods, tools and technologies with which professionals make the appropriate conclusions, as well as forecast prospects in individual regions of our country.
Research Centers and Scientific Activities
The problem of low living standards in Russia is reflected in the activities of research and sociological communities. Work on assessing the quality of people's living is carried out by the All-Russian Center for Living Standards, established in 1990 on a state basis. It is this institution that is able to answer the question why in Russia the low standard of living of the population. The main shares of the mentioned organization are state-owned. The spheres of activity of the VTsUZH include:
- Publishing: the center independently issued a scientific journal entitled “The Living Standards of the Country's Population,” which in each issue provides detailed and intelligible information for citizens, including new information on living standards in the regions, popular social surveys, life support indicators in individual areas, and scientific reasonable forecasts, as well as progressive developments to improve economic stability in the country.
- Educational activities.
- Conducting research work.
The value of the opinion of citizens of the Russian Federation about a low standard of living
In the course of repeated sociological surveys among the Russian population, the purpose of which was to obtain answers to the question of why Russia has a low standard of living, citizen reviews were of fundamental importance. The level of material wealth has always been the starting point for determining the state of society as a whole. The development of the socio-demographic component is proportionally dependent on the attitude of the country's inhabitants to specific events in the life of the state.
Work for basic needs
In particular, the results of one of the latest sociological tests showed a stunning picture that allows you to feel the complexity of the situation. The subject of the study was the purchasing power of citizens.
Judging by the statements and reviews of most of the people who participated in the experiment, one in five Russians encounters difficulties when it becomes necessary even to partially change the wardrobe. About 20% of the population cannot afford to buy new clothes, since almost all of their income covers only food costs. In addition, 5% of the country's inhabitants are unable to provide themselves with healthy, nutritious food, not to mention utility bills, education, leisure, etc.
What indicators assess the standard of living in our country?
Only a comprehensive adequate approach to the problem will help to analyze the factors that caused a low standard of living in Russia. The reasons for this phenomenon are a whole system of moments that are present to one degree or another in each individual subject of the state. It is important that the indicators are as reliable as possible. Only official information received from state institutions is taken into account. For example, organizations such as the Federal State Statistics Service, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, and authorities in territorial districts.
The standard of living of our population in the country is estimated by the following indicators:
- per capita income;
- health safety indicators for citizens;
- living conditions;
- demographic indicators;
- development of structures engaged in small business;
- economic condition of citizens.
Low incomes and meager salaries
To determine the low standard of living of the population of Russia means to study its dissatisfaction and the degree of various kinds of missing needs: spiritual, material, human. Living standards will be more objective if we take into account the number of people living in a particular region, the ratio of income and expenses, the poverty line taking into account the subsistence level per capita, the size of the salary and its commensurability with the prices of first and second necessities products.
It’s not easy to immediately determine the reasons and understand why Russia has such a low standard of living. Unfortunately, this indicator in our country cannot be called even average in some regions, despite the many successfully developing large companies that provide jobs and salaries for thousands of citizens. The average poverty rate in the country is 20% and is not indexed.
Moreover, 50% of the total number are able-bodied citizens. The reason is the low level of salaries. Even with regularly paid work in our country, 30% of citizens live with low incomes.
Emigration is a negative factor affecting the quality of life of citizens
One of the factors determining why Russia has a low standard of living is an active migration process. Many citizens are forced to leave the country, emigrating to other, more financially secure states, which means that Russia's labor and intellectual potential is declining. According to numerous studies, Norway is leading in terms of stability and reliability, and besides it, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada, and Switzerland are among the five leaders.
Sadly, the number of emigrants is growing every year, despite the development of numerous programs in our country created to support citizens. The authorities have done a lot to stabilize the well-being of the people, improve living standards, improve living standards, social security, balance the number of people who come to the country for permanent residence and those who leave.
Positive changes in the social sector
Other social indicators, such as mortality, health care quality, life expectancy are in even worse shape and in combination form a low standard of living in Russia. At the same time, the state is stubbornly trying to change the scenario of the current situation, allocating a lot of budget funds to maintain and develop the following industries:
- health care - many hospitals and clinics were repaired;
- pharmaceuticals - production of domestic medicines at affordable prices;
- modern technologies - many centers with the latest high-tech equipment have been opened.
The low standard of living of the population of Russia predetermines problems in the demographic sphere. But, as many studies show, over the past decade, the mortality rate has decreased significantly, which could not but affect the state of the demographic situation in the state.
The demographic boom in Russia
The birth rate growth in our country began in 2004, and success in this regard was nevertheless achieved. From 2004 to 2009, the growth of the born population increased by 2% amid a reduction in mortality. In the period from 2000 to 2005, the country experienced a strong economic recovery, which positively affected the quality and life expectancy of many citizens. In 2010, new perinatal centers were built in most regions of the country.
How are things going abroad?
But other developed countries have advanced in this area. In recent years, in terms of social and economic indicators, many states have overtaken Russia several times.
Economists who study the situation in dynamics are able to answer why there is a low standard of living in Russia. The development of the economy in the state, in their opinion, is moving rather weakly, inefficiently and unpromisingly. In addition, the income level in our country is many times lower than in the EU countries and in countries such as, for example, Japan.
The most comfortable cities for living in Russia
St. Petersburg and Moscow are the largest and most modern megacities of the Russian state. Despite the relatively high standard of living of the local population, problems are still present here. Ecology negatively affects the quality of life of citizens: the air is polluted, industrial enterprises, which are abundant in Moscow and in former Leningrad, affect the environmental background.
Is it worth talking about the numerous vehicles scurrying along the roads of cities around the clock, emitting exhaust gases into the atmosphere. This is a problem, of course, not only in Russian cities, but also in many other large settlements in the world. Of course, the government is trying to regulate the transport network and improve the environmental situation in densely populated cities. But this issue remains relevant to this day, the situation is imperfect, especially in the capital of the Russian Federation - Moscow. The foregoing gives a clear explanation of the fact why a low standard of living in Russia can be observed even in megacities.
Cities in the Russian Federation that have low living standards
It is not easy for Crimeans. In Sevastopol and Simferopol, the average salary is barely enough for two living wages. Of course, this can be largely explained by low Ukrainian incomes, because until recently the peninsula was the territory of Ukraine. But by the beginning of 2016, already as part of Russia, the situation had not fundamentally changed.
Things are not better in Smolensk and Ivanovo. Over the period of the existence of the Russian state, industrial production in these regional centers has decreased by 1.5 times, which is reflected in living standards. Significant unemployment, the cultural impersonality of citizens, many asocial elements - phenomena that are becoming more frequent.
Considering the situation in individual cities, the palm for the worst standard of living of the population should be awarded to the city of Verkhoyansk. Given the harsh climatic conditions, no more than a thousand people live there. Other cities of Russia with a low standard of living complete the list of poor settlements: by the way, everything is in the same poor Smolensk region - Rudnya and Demidov, Penza Sursk and Vorsma of the Nizhny Novgorod region. The incomes of the local population in these territories do not exceed 1.7 living wages. In addition, small towns in the European part of the state, slightly exceeding the population of 10 thousand people, can also be safely called poor. Salaries there hardly reach the mark of 2-2.5 living wages.
Positive developments
But in some regions, income levels have risen significantly in recent years. In Mordovia, for example, indicators increased immediately by 11 points. In the Ivanovo region - by 8 positions. In the Ulyanovsk region - by 7. For example, in Mordovia the economic situation was regulated, the sphere of small business was stabilized and strengthened. In the Ivanovo region, local authorities have strengthened security measures, mortality has significantly decreased. The economic component in the Ulyanovsk Region improved, the social infrastructure increased and became more developed.
Progress is noticeable. Ryazan also excelled in terms of quality of life. In just a year, the city climbed 5 positions in the overall rating for Russia and today occupies 30th place.
The state is doing everything possible to reduce poverty, maintain growth in the economy, and ensure macroeconomic stability in the country.