Social and economic development. Рубрика в журнале - Economic and Social Changes: Facts, Trends, Forecast
Development of small cities: from individual trajectories to strategic planning
Статья научная
The relevance of the study is due to increased attention to small cities and improving the quality of life, which is directly related to the strategic planning of small cities development, taking into account individual features. However, small cities in Russia are characterized by negative trends in the social and economic spheres. The aim of the study is to identify key areas of small cities development strategies, taking into account individual trajectories identified on the basis of expert assessments. The city of Kostomuksha of the Republic of Karelia, which is the administrative center of Kostomukshsky Urban Okrug, was chosen as the object of research. We use qualitative sociology methods, namely, the results of an expert focus group and individual interviews with representatives of government, business and non-profit organizations. We reveal problems in the social sphere typical for the city of Kostomuksha and for small cities in general: low level of accessibility of education and healthcare services, including personnel in these areas, migration outflow of young people, lack of renovation of housing stock. Regarding the stakeholders of territorial transformations, we find out that the main feature of Kostomuksha is predominant participation of large socially oriented businesses in addressing urban problems with rather weak participation of citizens. As a result of the research, we have identified new individual development trajectories: sports and wellness tourism, which must be taken into account in the development strategy of Kostomuksha. We conclude that it is necessary to design strategies for the development of territories, taking into account the opinions and activity of local communities, opportunities for collaboration of various actors in addressing social issues of small cities. The novelty of the research lies in expanding the methodological approach to strategic planning for small cities development using original tools of qualitative sociology - expert assessments of stakeholders in territorial development.
Бесплатно
Differences in Fertility and Reproductive Behavior Indicators
Статья научная
The search for the reasons that determine birth rate dynamics remains relevant from the practical and theoretical viewpoints. The aim of our research is to assess whether Russia’s population complies with the stable population model in terms of stability of sex structure. We make an attempt to calculate and assess reproduction indicators for male population. Having revealed that such calculations have methodological limitations, we propose a way to overcome them. According to calculations, in 2019 in Russia, the total fertility rate for women (1.504) was 9.1% higher than for men (1.378). The difference in the gross reproduction rate was 3.1% (0.730 for women and 0.708 for men), in the net reproduction rate – 6.0% (0.719 for women, 0.678 for men). The difference in the value of the rate of natural increase in women and men is 5.0% (-11.5 and -12.1%, respectively). Due to the presence of two quantitatively different reproduction modes in the female and male generations, we doubt it would be possible to implement a stable population model. The age-related model of fertility in men, as well as in women, is shifting toward older ages (in the groups aged 25–29 and 30–34). The average age when men become fathers has also increased: from 31.51 years in 2011 to 32.40 in 2019. We also analyze the fertility rate model according to the age of the mother and father. We have determined that in most cases (70% in 2019) the father is older than the mother, in 19% of cases the mother is older than the father, in 11% – both parents are of the same age. Fathers are 1–4 years older than mothers in 44–64% of cases (depending on the age of the mother). It is noteworthy that the difference in the age of parents is higher when children are born out of wedlock. In the future, we find it interesting to study gender-related differences in reproductive motivation and other determinants of male and female fertility.
Бесплатно
Digital civic participation in the context of modern research
Статья научная
The emergence and development of digital civic participation is an inevitable consequence of Internet penetration into various spheres of life. Despite the novelty of the phenomenon itself, the practices of online activism have become engrained in public life; and they have a significant impact on certain events, and sometimes even act as the main trigger of subsequent changes, which is especially typical of the political system. At the same time, there are many concerns related to the spread of digital civics, so that it is very difficult to talk about the long-term implications of such transformations. In this regard, the purpose of our research is to summarize the experience of studying digital civic participation and highlight the features of its manifestation in a modern world. The research methodology is based on the principles of making a systematic scientific review. During the analysis, we identify essential foundations and distinctive features of online activism compared to the traditional offline format, which are reflected in the forms of manifestation, methods of attracting and composition of the participants themselves, as well as the conditions necessary for collective action. The scope of digital civic participation is largely ensured by the ease of entry into public affairs, and the variability of activities and types of networking. Despite the prevalence of the thesis about the purely external visibility of online activism and its destructive consequences, specific empirical studies do not confirm this conclusion. Nevertheless, the threats of the spread of ICT are quite real and go far beyond the virtual space. In conclusion, we formulate several polemic provisions on possible ways to overcome the contradictions in this area. Our research contributes to the development of scientific ideas about the specifics of digital civic participation and the disclosure of the potential of its application from the standpoint of modern challenges and threats.
Бесплатно
Dynamics of reading habits of modern Russian students: a sociological analysis
Статья научная
The features of reading habits and their transformation are the subject of interdisciplinary scientific analysis, as well as of a broad public discussion about the effective response of the Russian state to the challenges of a technogenic society. The areas of sociological reflection on this phenomenon are quite broad, such as the reading crisis, interest in books, the impact of globalization, e-books and other electronic formats for reading. Sociological analysis allows finding answers to questions about the state and features of reading habits as a component of social capital, the social quality of specific geographical, social and demographic groups. Bookishness (love and respect for books) is an important feature of the Russian mentality, an indicator of socio-cultural continuity, which is why the study of reading habits of modern Russian students' culture acquires particular relevance. This article presents the results of a sociological research conducted in Astrakhan and Volgograd (2016, 2019), as well as in Moscow (2019). These empirical studies provide insights into the main trends in the dynamics of the reading habits of modern Russian students, and help to conduct a comparative analysis of these habits of Russian cities' students, among other things in terms of socio-cultural space levels (the “core - periphery” coordinate system). We identified the dominance of the axiological component of reading habits; determined that classical literature is the basis of the content structure of reading; noted that the frequency of reading habits falls with decreasing population of the settlement - people read more in Moscow, less in the province. We think it would be promising to use the results and conclusions in monitoring studies and sociological projects on similar topics in other regions, and to continue studying the obtained results in the framework of interdisciplinary analysis.
Бесплатно
Educational migration of school leavers from Karelia: arctic specifics
Статья научная
Studying the migration plans of school leavers is important in the context of the reproduction of the region’s human capital. The article considers youth’s educational migration plans in the case of one of the Arctic regions (Republic of Karelia). The empirical base includes data of sociological research we conducted in November 2022. A total of 3,053 students in grades 8-11 from all districts of Karelia participated in the survey. The main aim of the research is to identify migration intensions of young people, namely school leavers as a social group on the way to choose vocational education in the region or outside it, the reasons for migration moods and potential willingness to return to the area after receiving a profession in another region. We have established that migration moods differ by regions of Karelia: educational plans of the majority of schoolchildren in Petrozavodsk are oriented outside the region, and the northern (non-Arctic) region of Karelia, on the contrary, to Petrozavodsk. However, school leavers of Arctic and southern regions are also focused on studying outside the region, where the flows from the regions are usually directed to the center of their region and then to other regions. It is important to assess the potential return of graduates who leave the region: most of those who are not going to study in Karelia are also going to work there. A comparison of actual and potential outflows of eleventh-graders from the region proves that in fact every third graduate leaves. Most graduates, disposed to leave, romanticize their plans, and only one in four families financially prepare for their child’s education in another region; the rest take no concrete action. The results obtained contribute to studying youth’s migration activity in Russia’s regions that are partially included in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, as detailed information is limited for such territories. In practical terms, the research results can form the analytical basis for the timely development of management mechanisms to strengthen and retain youth in the Arctic regions.
Бесплатно
Educational strategies of students in the context of digitalization
Статья научная
Digitalization of education has a serious impact on the nature of the transformation taking place in the learning process and also on the interaction of all participants in the educational process. However, these changes have regional specifics due to uneven digitalization of Russia’s constituent entities and the peculiarities of integration of digital methods by various educational centers. At the same time, the changing meanings and values of education make it necessary to identify and describe educational strategies of modern students, as well as motivation, determining educational strategies. The study is based on the data obtained in the course of the surveys conducted by ISPR FCTAS RAS in 2021 and 2023. Arrays of three large educational centers (Moscow, Yekaterinburg and Irkutsk) were used for the article. We clarify the impact that distance learning, which had to be implemented in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, had on the educational process, and show that the accelerated process of transition to new educational practices was carried out unevenly, which reflects regional differences in the assessment of online learning formats. It is noted that students’ educational strategies are based on understanding the category of life success. Professionalism is an important component of life success for modern youth. During the data analysis, we identify two main strategies for achieving life success. The first strategy assumes high importance of intelligence as a key component in achieving success and welfare, regardless of the chosen field of activity. The second strategy involves relying on a high level of development of professional data and competencies in a chosen professional environment. Empirical data demonstrate a higher level of proficiency in basic digital skills among students in Moscow. The evaluation vector is shifted from the capital to the periphery. The same situation is observed with respect to students’ assessments of skills related to personal characteristics and safety. The obtained conclusions can become the foundation for designing and implementing tools for adjusting the management system of higher education on the path of modernization processes associated with widespread introduction of information technology.
Бесплатно
Статья научная
We make an attempt to substantiate the significance of creating institutional conditions for the development of nonprofit organizations; to this end, we identify social and economic impact of their activities on the regional economy. Using the synthesis of theoretical approaches to explaining the reasons for the emergence of the nonprofit sector (theory of interdependence and failure theory) and the results of content analysis of the projects supported by the Presidential Grants Foundation and submitted by socially oriented nonprofit organizations from the Volga Federal District, we identify directions and specify forms of leveling government failures. It was found that socially oriented nonprofit organizations focus on providing a range of services in the education system, health care and social support, which are of priority importance for the formation of people’s basic needs, which can be fulfilled by the state only to a certain limit, regardless of the territory of residence and taking into account residents’ individual needs. When assessing the effectiveness of their own work, representatives of socially oriented nonprofit organizations focus on its social significance, using mechanisms of point solutions to the current problems of the target audience. We identify the range of potential socio-economic effects from the activities of socially oriented nonprofit organization carried out on a systematic and long-term basis in the context of priority areas of their work. We emphasize that our approach, due to the formation of a unified view among economic agents (government, business, society and nonprofit organizations themselves), expands the idea of its importance for the region’s economy and may become a starting point for the creation of institutional conditions for the development of nonprofit organizations in Russia. The prospects for our future research include modeling the management system of specific regions of the Russian Federation based on the creation of institutional conditions to increase the contribution of socially oriented nonprofit organizations to the balanced development of territories.
Бесплатно
Employee environmental responsibility: empirical analysis and typology
Статья научная
Environmental responsibility of employees is a key prerequisite for achieving environmental goals of an organization and improving its environmental performance at the managerial and executive levels. Forming environmental responsibility in employees requires an understanding of the mechanisms and drivers of individual environmental behavior that may differ considerably, depending on the environmentally significant professional and personal qualities that encourage their conscious manifestation at work. The purpose of our study is to provide theoretical and empirical substantiation of the types of employee environmental responsibility. Methodological basis for our work includes the concept of individual environmental responsibility and environmental behavior of employees. The empirical base of the study is formed by the data from a survey of employees at Russian pro-environmental enterprises of the oil and gas industry. According to the results of the cluster analysis of the data obtained, we reveal characteristics for the role models of environmental behavior and identify four types of employees: ecoconservatives, eco-pragmatists, eco-activists, eco-pro-activists, differing in the awareness and acceptance of the company’s environmental values, compliance with environmental requirements in work activities, interest in participating in additional environmental activities and initiative in addressing environmental issues. The results obtained can be used to study the nature of individual environmental behavior and environmental responsibility; they can be also useful for companies in developing and improving human resource management policies and practices aimed at employees’ environmental development. The main limitation is the fact that we have chosen major oil and gas industry enterprises as the object of research, and they have a highly developed environmental policy, environmental management and the practice of environmental development of personnel; this narrows the significance of the results obtained within one industry, not allowing us to draw generalized conclusions and give practical recommendations.
Бесплатно
Статья научная
The work investigates employment risks for households with children in the new conditions of Russia’s development amid the special military operation, unprecedented external sanctions pressure at the stage of transition to the country’s sovereign development. The study is based on the findings obtained during a specially organized expert survey in 2023, the data of which were supplemented by an analysis of the results of monitoring state and non-state surveys and other sources. The work reveals and ranks, taking into account their importance, groups of risks in the field of employment, identified from the point of view of the “contour” of their conditioning (internal risks, related to the ongoing special military operation, and external risks). We name specific risks in the field of employment that can lead to a decrease in the level and quality of employment (including a decrease in income) in households with children and, as a result, a decline in their standard of living; these risks are ranked in terms of relevance. The obtained research results may be in demand for the development of state policy in relation to families with children, employment policy, and improving the standard of living, including within the framework of the national project “Family” and other long-term program-targeted and integrated management tools. Directions for further research are related to supplementing the list of identified risks and in-depth studies of their “carriers” (socio-demographic and other features) in households with children, the impact of risks, taking into account the concentration of risks and the number of their “carriers” on the employment situation and standard of living in various types of households.
Бесплатно
Environmental threats as a factor promoting environmental consciousness
Статья научная
The article examines changes in environmental consciousness, which depend on how environmental threats are presented and perceived in public opinion and public discourse in Russia. Using the theory of socio-cultural risks and threats, we consider the formation of the so-called environmental paradigm, which interprets environmental consciousness as part of public consciousness. Analyzing the inclusion of the environmental agenda in the domestic public and political discourse, we show show that since the 1990s Russian legislation has been guided by international documents in this area, and the Russian Federation has actively participated in all significant international environmental forums. The attack on the non-profit sector initiated by the state authorities in the 2010s significantly reduced the number of non-governmental organizations in the environmental sphere and affected the content of public discourse. The low level of awareness of the progress and content of the national project “Ecology” indicates insufficient interaction of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation with civil society institutions and representatives of local environmental initiatives. As a result, poor involvement of the population in environmental processes can potentially lead to the emergence of occasional environmental protests. The data of sociological studies show that public awareness of environmental threats is growing rather slowly and unevenly. In the overall rating of threats, environmental threats usually rank 3rd-4th, but this has a small effect on environmental behavior and on the formation of nature-saving social practices. We consider promoting environmental consciousness as a process of helping people to become more aware of anthropogenic risks and strive for a healthy ecological environment. The typological group of “responsible” individuals identified on the basis of this approach differs from the group of “indifferent” ones according to a number of socio-demographic and sociopolitical features and demonstrates weak positive dynamics.
Бесплатно
Ethnodemographic structure of immigration to Russia: possibilities of statistical analysis
Статья научная
Migration processes, unlike natural population movement, are more diverse, can be caused by different reasons and have different directions and deadlines. In this regard, the boundaries between the types of migration (and migrants) are often unclear, which complicates not only their classification, but also the choice of suitable sources for obtaining information about them. Ethnodemographic changes are taking place in modern Russia; this makes it necessary to monitor them more closely and expand approaches to their accounting. The purpose of the study is to develop proposals for the registration of immigrants based on the analysis of approaches developed in Russian and foreign practice aimed at studying and assessing the ethnodemographic characteristics of migrants. As a result of the study, we show that the most complete information about immigrants in Russia is provided by population census data, but the dynamic nature of migration flows requires additional measures related to their accounting. Current migration accounting is carried out using various forms, but the information most often remains at the level of authorized organizations and is not publicly available for analysis in the context of Russia’s regions and in the context of the countries whose citizens have arrived in Russia. Sample surveys allow us to study in more detail certain aspects of migration processes or certain categories of migrants, but their results may not always be comparable in time. We suggest the possibility of including additional data on the place of birth of the respondent’s father and mother in the population census sheets. For Russia, as well as for other countries, citizenship is an unstable feature, since migrants can become citizens of the country of residence. Requesting data on the place of birth of the respondent’s father and mother does not contradict constitutional law and helps to obtain a more clear idea concerning the ethnic and cultural roots of the individual.
Бесплатно
Features of the standard of living and labor situation in households with children and without them
Статья научная
The relevance of the study is determined by the need to improve public policy in order to address current issues concerning Russians’ standard of living and quality of life in the context of new risks posed by the socio-economic impact of a growing external pressure on the country. The article presents findings of a study that identifies the features of the standard of living of households with children (target group) and without children (control group), and considers the role of the labor situation of household members. The standard of living of households was considered through its modeling by per capita money income and by quality of housing conditions that were assessed with the help of social standards. We reveal that the most common models for households with children are those of low and lowest standard of living, which are less typical for households without children. Households with children are much more likely, in comparison to households without children, to face the most vulnerable situation in terms of income and quality of housing conditions. The article considers the labor situation of economically active members of households with different levels of per capita money income. We reveal the differences in the level of employment of persons aged 15 years old and older, with different income levels, living in households with and without children, depending on the age group. We assess the level of income from main employment, which ensures the positioning of households by standard of living (taking into account the actual dependent burden) and reveal that the presence of children increases the risks of households entering the lower strata by standard of living. We consider main reasons for the unemployment of persons aged 15 years old and older (by age group) living in households with children with different income levels and also determine “reserves” for increasing the level of employment in households with children and, as a consequence, their income level.
Бесплатно
Hybrid organizations in the non-governmental sector of social services: a sociological analysis
Статья научная
Issues regarding the development of the third sector are among major ones in research on Russia’s modern socio-economic system. Current trends in the transformation of the social services sector include the emergence and development of hybrid organizations whose activity combines social goals and commercial objectives. At the same time, hybrid forms in the social sphere have not been given due attention; Russian authors consider hybrid organizations mainly in relation to the development of public-private partnership in the field of economics. The aim of our research is to analyze theoretical approaches to understanding the hybrid model of organizations and consider specific examples of implementation of hybrid forms among Russian non-governmental organizations, which determines the scientific novelty of the work. Another task is to identify the most successful and innovative practices in the development of hybrid organizations representing the relationship between non-governmental and business structures. To solve it, we analyzed two cases: Penza and Kislovodsk, which represent a cluster of organizations providing services to children and adults with special needs. The results of the study showed that the tendency toward the development of hybrid forms for non-governmental organizations is largely related to the desire to achieve financial security. Currently, there exist other hybrid forms besides publicprivate partnerships and non-governmental organizations founded by large commercial organizations and affiliated with them; there emerge new institutional forms when non-governmental organizations establish commercial enterprises that, as a rule, provide additional services or replicate successful social practices on a commercial basis. Such organizations are intended to ensure financial stability of nongovernmental organizations, since part of the profit goes to support the latter. This process opens up significant opportunities for the development of the non-governmental sector, but requires finding a balance between the commercial and social components of such a partnership. The hybrid format creates new prospects for the third sector, allowing for the diversification of resources through the interaction of non-governmental and commercial structures and building more effective interaction with regional authorities. Further research in this area may be related to analyzing the effectiveness of hybrid forms in comparison with traditional NGOs, as well as studying long-term consequences of hybridization for the development of the third sector.
Бесплатно
Статья научная
Within the framework of the article, we assess regions and countries that in the future may become new foci of economic and civilizational activity. This issue is relevant because many countries are now witnessing the exhaustion of demographic growth opportunities, which in turn will hinder intensive economic growth in them. To address the issue, we propose a two-stage econometric modeling procedure. The first econometric dependence links population growth rate with total fertility rate, and the second dependence reveals the impact of economic, institutional and cultural factors on fertility rate. Empirical testing of models was performed for a sample of 15 countries (Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, France, Germany, Iran, Japan, China, Mexico, Egypt, Great Britain, USA, Canada and Australia) and showed high productivity and invariance of the proposed model scheme. Based on the constructed models, we put forward several quantitative characteristics of national demographic regimes. The most important of them is the long-term demographic effect of scale, taking into account the reaction of the population to the growth of per capita welfare. Applied calculations show that the U.S. still has the potential to maintain its growth regime for quite a long time, while China, Japan and Germany have almost exhausted this resource. The most likely foci of a new round of development of human civilization may be Russia, Kazakhstan and Iran, which, taking into account neighboring countries, form a kind of regional cluster in the center of Eurasia. It is in this area of the planet that we should expect the greatest economic and political activity in the next two to three decades.
Бесплатно
Статья научная
The development of digital technology causes rapid transformation in the sphere of work and the emergence of new forms and formats of employment. The ongoing changes bring to the fore the issue of work-family balance, because it is necessary to promote the well-being of employees with children. The aim of our research is to study the impact of the digitalization of employment on the work-children balance. The empirical base includes findings of a survey of working age women and men, with work experience, living in the territory of the Russian Federation, and raising children under the age of 14 (N = 954); the survey was conducted in May - June 2023. Based on the data obtained, we reveal differences in satisfaction ratings among respondents who intensively use information and communication technologies and do not intensively use/do not use them in their work; the latter have a higher average satisfaction rate concerning the time spent on parental responsibilities. This indicates the ambiguous impact of information and communication technologies on the satisfaction rate regarding the time spent on parenthood. Second, there is no direct relationship between the amount of time parents spend with their children and subjective satisfaction with the time spent on parenthood; this is in line with the results of other studies. Third, we reveal a contradiction between a high assessment of the expected positive effect of a hybrid work format on the time spent on children and low satisfaction regarding the time spent on children in women that work under a hybrid employment scheme. The revealed contradiction indicates difficulties in the practical implementation of this work format, which significantly reduce women’s satisfaction regarding the time spent on parenthood. The determinants of this effect require further verification with the use of qualitative techniques.
Бесплатно
Influence of the spouse on reproductive attitudes and motives
Статья научная
As a micro-level factor, the spouses or partners influence each other’s reproductive intentions, motives, and decisions. This article examines only two areas of influence from a possible spectrum, namely the impact of the nature of the relationship and the other spouse’s position on having children. The empirical basis is the opinion poll “Demographic well-being of Russia”, conducted in 2020 in 10 regions, including Moscow. Respondents, both officially married and being in cohabiting relationship, aged up to 49 years old inclusive (2,776 people) participated in the survey. According to the evaluations of relationships using the criteria of “cohesion”, “conflicts”, and “big quarrels and scandals”, respondents were divided into three groups: the worst (12-16%), average (29-36%), and best (42-53%) evaluations. The most favorable relations are typical of families with a traditional power structure (husband is head of the family), joint management of income (husband and wife make decisions together), better living conditions, and younger age of the spouses. We found that an improvement in relationship estimates was accompanied by an increase in the proportion of those intending to have a child, while a deterioration in the estimates was accompanied by a decrease in the proportion of those intending to have a child. The groups with the most cohesive, conflict-free relationships are the most likely to have children in the coming years, and it increases if new family support measures are introduced. In postponing the birth of children of different order, as well as in planning their birth, the position of the other spouse or partner (the desire to postpone having a child or the intention to have one) is one of the most significant motives of reproductive behavior. The importance of motives is conditioned by both favorable and unfavorable relations in families. The results of the study actualize one of the directions of state socio-demographic and family policy - activities to harmonize marital and family relationships and to reduce the influence of a range of factors complicating these relationships, which can have a positive impact on the decision to have children.
Бесплатно
Статья научная
One of the reasons for the imbalance of labor markets and educational services is that applicants choose the universities and the specialties that are unclaimed in the present and future labor market. The article presents the results of an empirical study on identifying behavioral patterns of applicants when choosing a direction of study and higher education institution (2021, N = 4228), which was conducted among 10th and 11th graders of the Republic of Bashkortostan. We considered the results of the survey broken down by three territorial blocks: the capital (urban district of Ufa); urban area - 8 urban districts; rural area - 54 municipal districts. The analysis revealed three irrational patterns of behavior among applicants: 1) choosing “easy” humanities and economic specialties as the subject of the Unified State Exam (USE), not allowing to enter the desired in-demand specialty; 2) desire to enter a “promising specialty” not related to the choice of the USE; 3) applying for specialties not related to the choice of the USE subject and the desire of the entrant. During the study we found that the irrationality of an applicant’s behavior in a difficult situation associated with the multiparameter choice of training program and higher education organization becomes one of the causes of imbalance in the labor and educational services market in the region. We determined that further research on the behavior of applicants should be conducted in the following directions: modeling and forecasting behavior of applicants (development of a comprehensive agent-based model of the educational system of the region, allowing for computational experiments to assess the impact of various mechanisms of state influence on the behavior of agents (applicants), and the development of practice-oriented and interactive methods of vocational guidance among school students, especially in rural areas.
Бесплатно
Issues of the methodology for assessing social well-being in contemporary Russia
Статья научная
The article provides a critical analysis and synthesis of modern concepts of social well-being, as well as decomposition and operationalization of this sociological concept, which allows solving the problem of measuring and assessing the quality of life of individuals and social groups in a more comprehensive way. We have shown differences in the understanding of social well-being as a socio-psychological construct based on an individual’s subjective evaluation of the conditions and results of their life activities, and as an objective assessment of the social and economic status of the individual, their involvement in social networks, access to public goods. We also noted that when choosing a methodology for measuring social well-being, it is necessary to consider the economy of the society under consideration (developed or developing) and the existence conditions of the local community as a whole, not just individuals (the concept of community well-being). Based on a synthesis of existing approaches, methodologies, and sets of variables for the empirical study of social well-being, we propose our own version of the methodology for the comprehensive measurement of social well-being, which takes into account the specifics of social processes and relations in contemporary Russia. Within the framework of this methodology, we identify 11 basic factors affecting the level of social well-being, operationalized through more than 50 indicators. The sources of data for their measurement, along with state and corporate statistics, are mass sample and expert surveys. In the article we also raise the problem of calculating weighting coefficients for various factors contributing to social well-being, and proposed its solution on the basis of the ranking method as a special case of the expert evaluation method. The considered set of factors allows covering economic, social, political and legal, medical, socio-cultural and everyday components of life of individuals and local communities.
Бесплатно
Life expectancy in Russia's regions
Статья научная
Life expectancy at birth is used as a comprehensive indicator of public health and socioeconomic development. The impact of the quality of healthcare, reginal economic development and people’s welfare on life expectancy at birth in Russia requires more detailed and system-wide scientific substantiation at the level of RF constituent entities. The novelty of the study consists in identifying the impact of various factors on the increase in life expectancy by constructing panel vector autoregressions in groups of Russian regions identified with the help of clustering and showing similar rates of increase in life expectancy. The results of the obtained models in the context of the formed clusters demonstrate that the increase in life expectancy in all clusters correlates with the positive dynamics of economic development in the region and the increase in average per capita income. Factors contributing to the organization of the healthcare system in the regional context are poorly related to life expectancy indicators due to the underfunding of this area, orientation toward a decrease in the provision of beds in hospitals due to the optimization of the healthcare system and the cumulative nature of the impact. The conclusions obtained in the course of our study can be used in the practice of managing the quality of life and socio-economic development in Russia’s regions.
Бесплатно
Lifelong learning in Russia as a mechanism for the reproduction of human potential: gender aspect
Статья научная
The article presents a study of the peculiarities of the involvement of Russian men and women in lifelong learning. The analysis of both Russian and foreign studies allowed putting forward the hypothesis that women and men may have different approaches to the construction of a lifelong learning educational path. The purpose of this study is to assess the parameters of women's and men's involvement in lifelong learning, including the goals and sources of funding, in order to identify similarities and gender asymmetry of lifelong learning path in Russia. The data of the sample survey of population involvement in lifelong learning, conducted by Rosstat in 2020, show that women and men's age profiles are similar, but their levels of involvement in different types of lifelong learning are not the same: men participate more actively in non-formal education, and women - in self-education. The current segregation of additional studies for qualification and field generally reflects the existing sectoral and occupational segregation in employment. At the same time, both women and men rarely associate their additional training with the expanded career opportunities, which may indicate the absence of a full-fledged system of vertical professional mobility based on the human potential growth. Our calculations show that employers more often invite men than women to take additional education and, accordingly, women more often than men pay for it themselves. Women with young children experience particular difficulties in participating in non-formal education and more often than others have to pay for themselves. This, in our view, contributes to the formation of gender inequality of opportunities for participation in lifelong learning, which makes it important to consider the gender factor in state programs of lifelong learning development in order to maximize its contribution to the human potential reproduction.
Бесплатно
