Social and demographic policy in modern Russia: theoretical expectations and real efficiency

Since the early 2000s, social and demographic policy in Russia has become more flexible. However, there are contradictions here as well which are related to the demographic necessity of the population growth and numerous social and economic problems. For example, expectations of a return to the ideal of a large family face not only an economic problem but also an insufficient infrastructure designed to ensure a good child development (first of all pre-school institutions). The main reasons for the lack of funds are: on the one hand, the increase in the number of dependents, on the other - the decrease in the number of able-bodied, income-generating family members. Families with many children, single-parent families, young families and orphans are the most vulnerable groups of the Russian population in this regard. Therefore it is necessary to set priorities and decide what is more important for the state: purely quantitative population growth or living standards of people that is in what conditions they live and what age they die.