СОСТОЯНИЕ СОЦИАЛЬНОЙ СФЕРЫ И ЖИЗНЕННЫЙ УРОВЕНЬ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ КИРОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ В ГОДЫ ВТОРОЙ ПЯТИЛЕТКИ (1933–1937)

Abstract

The article focuses on the social sphere development of the Kirov region in the years of the second five-year plan (1933–1937). It substantiates a direct link between the dynamic development of the industrial sector of the regional economy and the changes in the social sphere. The authors trace the changes in the incomes and purchasing power of the population of the region. They give the ratio of average wages in different industries and the prices for basic consumer goods along with the abolition of the rationing distribution system in the Soviet Union. In addition, the article provides the data pertaining to the regional budget expenditures on the education, health care and social support for the vulnerable groups of the population; the paper also traces the positive growth trend in the number of schools, hospitals, and cultural institutions. The authors state the special role and managing methods of the regional party bodies in resolving the social development tasks for the region and in protecting the interests of ordinary industrial and agricultural workers. Аt the same time, noting the positive trend in the development of the social sphere in the designated geographical framework, the authors draw attention to the whole range of its systemic issues. They classify as such the housing shortage, growing over the entire period, the disparity in the development of big cities and rural areas, the insufficient level of medical care provided to the population, and the serious shortcomings in the education of young people. However the authors come to the conclusion that the Kirov region during the years of the second five-year plan was a dynamically developing territory with good prospects