Standard of living of households with children in modern Russia: risk factors

The article analyzes the main indicators of the standard of living of households with children and identifies factors that create risks of a decline in living standards. The research methodology is based on Russian statistics, including macroeconomic data, the results of a sample survey of household budgets, sample observation of population incomes and participation in social programs, comprehensive monitoring of living conditions of the population, as well as the results of monitoring studies of incomes and living standards of the Russian population. Two interrelated calculation indicators are considered as the main indicators of living standards: real disposable resources and the purchasing power of consumption expenditures (key). The study is conducted for households with different numbers of children for the period 2018-2022. It is shown that indicators of the standard of living of households with children and risk factors are differentiated based on the number of children. It was determined that real disposable resources and the level of purchasing power of consumption expenditures decreased for all types of households with children. It was revealed that all households with children were low-income in terms of purchasing power of consumption expenditures. The risk of poverty in households with 1 child was the lowest, and in households with 2 children it became alarming. Households with 3 or more children are at extremely high risk of poverty. It has been shown that among low-income households the depth of poverty in the presence of 3 or more children is the most significant. It was determined that in the period under review, households with 1 child were less likely to spend the increase in available resources on consumption, and households with 3 or more children were most likely due to insufficient resource sufficiency. The identified risk factors for living standards are grouped by their level of education - external (international level) and internal (Russian level). Within the groups, their spheres of influence are highlighted - socioeconomic, monetary, demographic. Based on the results of the study, measures were proposed to improve the situation of households with children.