Modern problems of evaluation of the family policy effectiveness in the Russian Federation

Abstract

The article is devoted to the multifaceted and complex problems, associated with comprehensive evaluation of the effectiveness of the state family policy. A significant stage in the development of state family policy is the adoption of the concept of state family policy in 2014. Evaluation of measures’ effectiveness in the field of family policy is the subject of many publications. However, most authors pay their attention to the individual events. It appears that the effectiveness of implementation of strategic documents is defined by the detailed development of the documents, objective approach to formation of system of target indicators. The aim of the article is the analysis of the structure of the Concept of family policy, adopted in 2014, and implementation plan of its first stage. It allows identifying whether the ineffectiveness of family policy is determined by the logic strategic documents in the field of family policy. The possibilities for monitoring the effectiveness of the action plan and the first results of the implementation of the Concept, consistency of the logic in these documents are considered. Materials and methods . The conclusions of the article are based on the analysis of quantitative and qualitative indicators of family policy. The data of statistical monitoring of family policies based on official statistical reporting and representative sample surveys of ROSSTAT, and the experience of monitoring the National strategy of actions in interests of children served as the information base of the study. Results. Currently, the performance evaluation is conducted formally; complexity evaluation for the implementation of the Concept of family policy is largely related to the logic of formation of the Concept and its expected results, the disadvantages of the formation of plans for its implementation, the lack of necessary information and special monitoring in the framework of the implementation of the Concept. In the framework of the Concept in accordance with the objectives, nine areas are highlighted, for which a list of indicators of the results has defined. The proposed indicators were not assigned to specific sections of the Concept. A number of them do not have specific quantitative measurements, which poses a substantial problem associated with the inability to conduct an objective assessment of the effectiveness of specific measures. The analysis of the logic of the Concept and implementation plan of its first stage showed that in many respects goals, objectives, indicators and financial support do not balance them. Conclusions . The problem of the ineffectiveness of large-scale conceptual and strategic documents is often linked with the logic of the document, a formal approach to the formation of a system of indicators. A number of measures, provided in the Concept, are not reflected in the implementation plan. The analysis allowed formulating proposals for clarifying the mechanism of implementation and evaluation of the effectiveness of the Concept. The most important of the proposals are the definition of the desired level of performance, projecting performance indicators of family policies in view of conflicting demographic and socio-economic dynamics; the need to develop the integrated statistical indicator of the effectiveness of family policy, covering activities in all areas.