Single parent families in Russia: level of spred and material support

The article is devoted to the analysis of living standard and factors affecting the income of single-parent families with children. This category of families is most exposed to the risk of poverty and social exclusion. The reasons leading to the formation of single parent families are different, but the main reason is divorce. The problem of low incomes after divorce is considered as a great importance for our country, and it leads to "feminization of poverty". Alimony for children after divorce must compensate the lack of the second parent income. Is it really so? The authors study living standards of one-parent families using Rosstat families’ surveys data. It is important to analyze the legal framework and the practice of implementing alimony relations. The problems of non-payment or delays in the payment of alimony exist not only in Russia, and the international experience in solving them is interesting for choosing ways to improve the situation with the financial support of children after the parents divorced in Russia.