The inequality of households in Russian regions: case of COVID-19 pandemic

The article analyzes household inequality in the regions of Russia during the COVID-19 pandemic. The disparities in socio-economic development between the regions of Russia were significant, and the pandemic exacerbated these differences. The scale of economic losses varied depending on the level of infection in different regions. At the same time, the pandemic acted as a catalyst for digitalization, which allowed essential socio-economic processes, such as education, work, medical and government services, and online shopping, to continue. However, despite the acceleration of digital transformations, inequality issues, expressed in income gaps and quality of life, remain relevant. The research findings indicate that the pandemic significantly affected the reduction of household income and worsened the well-being of households in Russian regions.