The Gap Between Desired and Actual Level of Families Well–Being According to the Results Sociological and Demographic Married Couples Survey

Abstract

Based on a simultaneous husbands and wives survey, the article examines the relationship between the desired and actual level of per capita family income (along with housing conditions) in connection with the spouses’ socio-demographic characteristics. Most families with three and more children are characterized by low incomes, which require the introduction of material compensation as part of social policy. On the other hand, the task of family and demographic policy is to increase the current family need for two children, for which economic incentives are not enough. In this regard, noneconomic measures of influence are required; hence, the focus is on the analysis of value-motivational aspects of behavior, that is spousal self-assessment of desired and actual wellbeing. An increase in the degree of the gap between them first increases reproductive orientations and actual childbearing, and then lowers them. Socially significant is the critical value of the gap - the excess of the desired income over the actual up to three times, which determines the orientation of family behavior. Taking into account this empirical, well-grounded relationship is important from a practical point of view.