Poverty in Russian regions in 2000-2017: factors and dynamics

Natalia V Zubarevich

doi:10.3897/popecon.3.e35376

Abstract

The article considers the level and dynamics of the level of poverty in the regions of Russia for 2000-2017, shows the sustainability of regional differentiation, despite the changes in the distribution of regions by the level of poverty. Regions with different rates of poverty reduction in the period of economic growth and the factors that accelerated this process are allocated. The weak impact of the two recent crises on the dynamics of poverty in the regions with different dynamics of income is revealed. The influence of demographic (child burden) and income factors (income level and income inequality), the cost of living in regions and the level of urbanization on regional poverty indicators is considered. The change of influence of different factors of poverty in the early 2000s and in 2017 is shown. An analysis of changes in the regional picture of poverty in transition from absolute to relative criteria of its measurement is carried out.

Highlights

Introduction and Problem StatementPoverty in Russia is characterized by significant regional differentiation both by scale and profile
Developed countries use a relative poverty criterion (50% or 60% of median per capita income)
The level of relative poverty by regions is calculated on the basis of the author's methodology and analysis of the relationship of both indicators of poverty with economic and social indicators according to data for 2009 is performed

Summary

Introduction and Problem Statement

Poverty in Russia is characterized by significant regional differentiation both by scale and profile. The level of relative poverty by regions is calculated on the basis of the author's methodology and analysis of the relationship of both indicators of poverty with economic and social indicators according to data for 2009 is performed. The author has shown that reduction of poverty is positively influenced by social payments to the poor (increasing their share in all social payments and the volume relative to the subsistence minimum), the wage level (the ratio of the average wage to the subsistence minimum), and negatively by the share of the population older than the working age, because since the end of the 2000s pensioners receive additional payments from the budget, bringing their pension up to the subsistence level of the pensioner.

Materials and methods of research

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