The Problem of Poverty in a Society with Excessive Socio-economic Inequality

Abstract

The object of the study is the phenomenon of socio-economic inequality in the world and Russia. The subject of the study is poverty as an integral phenomenon of the lower strata of society with its excessive differentiation by income and wealth. The purpose of the study is to determine the depth of the problems of socio-economic inequality and poverty during the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The research methodology is based on the use of the principles of integrated and systematic approaches, general scientific and special methods of economic science. The information base of the study was data from the National Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, data from opinion polls conducted by VTSIOM and the Levada Center, the World Bank. The article is devoted to the problems of socio-economic inequality and poverty as interrelated, having common roots, causes, consequences and similar solutions. The depth of the studied problem is illustrated by statistical data in relation to Russia and individual countries of the world. Particular attention is focused on the accessibility of the poorest segments of the population to health services during the spread of coronavirus infection. The thesis that the pandemic has made the poor even poorer is confirmed. The authors cite alternative official statistics - the results of sociological surveys conducted by various organizations in order to emphasize the scale and depth of the problem of poverty and vulnerability of the population classified as the lower decile.