Regional Social Policy Research Articles

Levels of Social Participation among Silver-Age Citizens and Factors of its Activation in the Region of Russia (Case of the Sverdlovsk Region)

Introduction. The quality of life of silver-age people is associated not only with psychological, economic and physical well-being, but also with the peculiarities of interpersonal relations and the diversity of their social activity. The widespread ideology of active or “delayed aging” actualizes the study of the nature of inclusion of elderly citizens in various practices of social participation that fill their daily lives. The aim of the study is to reveal the level characteristics of social participation of citizens of silver age in the Sverdlovsk Oblast and the factors that determine them. Materials and Methods. The article analyses the data from the survey of residents of the Sverdlovsk Region over the age of 60, the sample is structured by gender, age, and place of residence of the respondents (type of settlement). The authors’ survey method was used to determine the nature and frequency, level and type of social participation of the Urals elderly, to identify factors that contribute to or impede activity in old age. Results. The study showed that socio-consumer participation characterized by activities “for oneself” and collective participation aimed at social integration “together with others” constitute the main content of social participation of the studied cohort. The participation of the elderly in the practices aimed at helping and caring (“for others”) is significantly lower, and a radical decrease in the activity of the elderly Urals residents is revealed when they switch to “civic participation”. It has been proved that the intensity of social participation of silver-age citizens living in cities is higher than in rural areas. The only exception is participation in civic activities. The same influence on the intensity of the different practices of social participation at all levels is exerted by the status of residence (independent or in a residential institution), the presence of close relatives and the frequency of Internet use. Discussion and Conclusion. The identification of the levels and factors of social participation of older citizens creates an evidence base on the processes of active aging in a typical Russian region. The results of the study demonstrate the relevance of focusing regional social policy on aging and the non-profit sector on increasing the social participation of people and groups of the “silver” age. The article may be of interest to regional authorities, social protection and service institutions, the regional non-profit sector, offering tools for the development and implementation of effective social aging policies aimed at implementing resources and supporting the social participation of the older generation.

МОДЕЛІ «ДЕРЖАВИ ЗАГАЛЬНОГО ДОБРОБУТУ» ТА ЇХНІ ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКИ

The article examines the peculiarities of the welfare state model, which has been constantly changing, transforming, having different options for implementation, going through a crisis and post-crisis development. It is determined that only the state, in the policy of the welfare state, acts as a guarantor of social rights and opportunities for its citizens. The author reveals the types of welfare models and their main characteristics that determine the peculiarities of social policy implemented by countries. It is established that the model of the “welfare state” has experienced an economic, ideological and philosophical crisis, which has led to the need to update and modernize the conceptual foundations of its implementation. The author proves that changes in the country’s social policy allow for a clear distinction between programmatic retrenchment and systematic retrenchment, i.e., reduction of social programs or reduction of social expenditure financing in the welfare state model. The author reveals the typology of models of management of the state social policy, in particular: pluralistic, corporate, Marxist and elite models. It is proved that the main social task of the state’s economic policy is “not to distribute benefits, but to ensure the conditions of freedom and independence of individuals who are able to create these benefits and take care of themselves and their families on their own”. The modern version of the socio-economic model of the “welfare state” is to create conditions that will ensure the synergy of market self-regulation and state intervention, and can be implemented in the areas of economic freedom and personal development. In addition, the areas of development of the welfare state are: risks and innovations, social solidarity, social justice, lifelong support, distribution of difficulties between generations, which is part of the concept of sustainable development. It is established that the transformation of the welfare state model leads to a change in the mechanisms and instruments for its implementation, in particular: universalization of social expenditures; policy coherence between social, economic and environmental aspects of development; search for inclusive forms of its implementation and partnership between the State, civil society and business; identification of new directions in global and regional social policy. It is established that the choice of implementing the “welfare state” model depends on the historical, socio-cultural and economic conditions prevailing in a country and is determined by the type of its socio-political system, ideological and spiritual principles, and the peculiarities of the stage of development. Key words: welfare, state, models of the welfare state, social justice, social security.

Loan accessibility for social housing in Vietnam's Mekong Delta: An empirical study

The purpose of this study is to examine how easily low-income workers can get loans for social housing projects under a Vietnamese government policy. This policy, outlined in Decision 388/QD-TTg by the Prime Minister on April 3, 2023, aims to build at least 1 million apartments for low-income individuals and industrial park workers from 2021 to 2030. The study focuses on four branches of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policy (VBSP) in the Mekong Delta region: Tra Vinh, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, and Soc Trang provinces. The research involved surveying 280 workers who applied for loans at these banks between May 2003 and September 2023. Half of these applicants met the loan criteria, while the other half did not. Using a Binary logistic regression model, the study identified several factors that influence the likelihood of obtaining a social housing loan from VBSP. These factors include the applicant's age, education level, number of dependents, marital status, total income, equity ratio, and the value of collateral. Among these, the total income, value of collateral, and equity ratio were found to have the most significant effect on loan accessibility. Based on the findings, the authors suggest policy recommendations to make it easier for low-income workers to access loans for social housing in the future, enhancing the effectiveness of the VBSP's lending program in the Mekong Delta.

Words to find common ground for action. Bridging social and health services through concertation on accessibility to vulnerable groups in Brussels

Introduction: Linking general primary care, health and social services with non-profit organisations dedicated to vulnerable groups is the aim of an ongoing concertation process hosted by Brusano, the regional organisation aimed at fostering person-centred health and social-integrated services in Brussels.
 In the Belgian Capital, the most vulnerable people are often attended to by non-profit organisations dedicated to a specific target group or problem. These organisations are often overwhelmed, with people not moving towards general services as intended at some point. General primary care and social services remain insufficiently accessible to vulnerable people. Considering the integrated health and social policy reforms currently taking place at national and regional levels, health and social professionals felt the need to better understand each other and build common ground in order to work together and participate in the reform process. 
 Targeted population and stakeholders: The targeted population is care providers from all levels of care, home helpers and social workers in all kinds of settings. End beneficiaries are vulnerable groups - e.g. migrants, sex workers, people with addictions, prisoners and former inmates, isolated persons, homeless people... - and people who are at a high risk of exclusion when facing problems mixing health and social situations – low income, precarious housing, language barriers... The premise is that if services can include such vulnerable groups, they might achieve broader accessibility for all. 
 Participants: The concertation gathers professionals from multiple health sector disciplines- primary care, hospital, mental health - as well as from the social sector and dedicated non-profits. Nearly 150 professionals participate, with a mean attendance of 30 per meeting.
 Description of the initiative: In 2021-2022, the concertation resulted in an online publication, co-written by two partners, reviewed by 5 others, presented and discussed in 3 meetings, then further adjusted accordingly. The paper provides an overview of the organisation of the health and social systems, as well as a set of definitions. It acknowledges that different levels of care operate as first contact and often lack the means and skills to be fully inclusive and accessible to vulnerable groups. 
 Results / Impact: Stakeholders coined a new phrase - “inclusive practices” - to fully capture the expertise of the dedicated non-profits and to bring about inclusivity in different settings through collaborations. The definitions were included in the glossary used as a reference for the upcoming Regional Health and Social Policy Plan.
 
 Learning for the international audience: Building a common language for health and social professionals, while fully recognizing the expertise of non-profits dedicated to vulnerable groups bridges the gap between health and social services. It is a step towards better integration of health and social organisations, which is a major challenge to integrated care.
 Next steps: In the coming months, the concertation process will continue identifying and supporting inclusive practices whatever the service or level of care. It will be fully part of the Regional Health and Social Integrated Plan. 
 It develops as a model where a specific expertise supports services to the general population.

Regional health and social inequalities in Bulgaria

Abstract Background The administrative division of Bulgaria divides it into 28 regions, which differ significantly in terms of both socioeconomic development and a number of demographic indicators. The death rate is an indicator according to which our country has been at the top of the world rankings for several years. Cardiovascular diseases stand out among the leading causes of death and they are one of the most important problems facing our society and health system. The study aims to analyse the relationship between the death rate due to CVD in different regions in Bulgaria with the average annual salary of employed persons as an indicator for the socioeconomic development of the regions. Methods The regional differences in the death rate due to CVD and the average annual salary of employed persons were analysed based on the National Statistical Institute data. Analysis and calculations were performed by MS Excel 2019. Results The death rate due to CVD in Bulgaria varies widely - from 1739.7 per 100000 in region Vidin, 1685,2 in region Montana to 878.0 in the city of Sofia, with a national average of 1163.2 /2021/. At the same time, Vidin and Montana regions are also among the regions with a very low average annual salary of employed persons - respectively 12 855 and 13 983 BGN, which is much lower than the average for the country - 21 128 and than the capital Sofia - 25 724 BGN /2021/. Conclusions The regional health inequalities in Bulgaria are very important in order to control and decrease the level of mortality in the country, especially the death rate due to CVD. Bulgaria is among the counties that have the most serious challenges related to high cardiovascular deaths and should be among the priorities of public policy. The profound regional differences that were found impose permanent monitoring and directing the regional social and public health policies to avoid their unfavourable effects. Society should be making major and cost-effective efforts to reduce mortality. Key messages • The elimination of regional inequalities in the country is one of the possible ways to deal with the difficult demographic situation which occurred in the years after the democratic changes. • Regional health inequalities create the need for a long-term health policy that will improve the population's health status and the effective functioning of the healthcare system in our country.

ПРОБЛЕМЫ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОГО ВЫРАВНИВАНИЯ ПРОМЫШЛЕННЫХ, СЫРЬЕВЫХ, АГРОПРОМЫШЛЕННЫХ РЕГИОНОВ (на примере Уральского федерального округа)

The Russian Federation, which is a federal state, is characterized by a high degree of diff erentiation of federal districts, within the districts themselves — regions in terms of the level of socio-economic development. The reasons for the uneven socio-economic development of the regions lie in varying degrees of provision with a resource and raw material base, historically developed infrastructure, natural and climatic conditions, customs and traditions of the indigenous population, its mentality and other factors of an objective nature. Ultimately, all of the above forms the social conditions of life of the population, which eventually lead to an increase in the differentiation of regions in terms of the level of development: rich regions can accumulate their own resources for their development, while poor regions will need much more time and eff ort. Social diff erentiation, together with territorial fragmentation, poses a clear threat to national strengthening within the country and in the international arena. Agro-industrial, industrial and raw materials (export oriented) regions are no exception. The purpose of the study is to establish the diff erences between the regions of the Ural Federal District in the level of socio-economic development and quality of life. The study is based on the materials of the rating conducted by the rating agency RIA Rayting / Russia Today on the basis of offi cial data from Rosstat, the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. Research method — in the course of the study, cognitive methods were used: analysis and synthesis, grouping, comparison, correlation, logical, tabular, etc. The study found that there is a relationship between the level of socio-economic development and quality of life: a high level of development and quality of life provide raw material regions, the outsider in the ranking is the agro-industrial region (Kurgan region). The practical signifi cance of the study is that its results can be used in practice in the development of regional social policy.

Contemporary Demographic Development of the Republic of Bashkortostan: Review of the Regional Demographic Report

The article presents an overview of the collective scientific work revealing the features of the socio-demographic development of the region – the Demographic Report of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Based on official statistics and sociological research, the publication provides a comprehensive analysis of the processes of natural and migration movement of the population of the republic, examines some aspects of socio-economic development, as well as measures of regional social and demographic policy. The Demographic Report notes that the main trends of the Republic of Bashkortostan take place in the all-Russian context. These are the aging of the population, a decrease in the number of people of active working age; a decrease in the intensity of fertility, a decrease in the population of reproductive age, the dominance of reproductive attitudes towards childlessness; a change in the structure of mortality for reasons; transformation processes in the spheres of family and marriage (changes in value attitudes, marital behavior, etc.); centripetal, the nature of migration processes, high migration decline of young age groups. At the same time, the Demographic Report emphasizes that the general trends in the demographic development of Russia and Bashkortostan do not exclude that the processes of natural and migration movement of the population in the republic have their own specifics. This is due to the age, socio-territorial, ethnic structure of the population; the level of urbanization in the region; the existing system of urban and rural settlement; the peculiarities of socio-economic development of the republic and other factors. Socio-demographic indicators in Bashkortostan are also differentiated within the region, which is manifested at the sub-regional and municipal levels. The Demographic Report suggests measures in the areas of social and demographic policy. According to the authors, measures in the field of family and fertility, mortality and health, migration and employment should be closely interrelated and complement each other.

The Problem of the Socio-Cultural Integration of Regions through the Prism of the Concept of the Estate Class Structure of Russian Society

Introduction. The motivation for this research is the social contradiction between the need of the modern Russian state for effective socio-cultural integration of various regions of the country, on the one hand, and yet insufficient consideration of the peculiarities of their estate social structure in this process. The purpose of the article is to consider the estate class structure of the regions of Russia as one of the factors of their socio-cultural integration. Materials and Methods. The object of the study is the socio-cultural integration of Russian regions. The subject is the role of the estate class structure of regions in the process of their socio-cultural integration. A number of general scientific methods are used in this study: analysis, synthesis, induction, formalization, idealization, hypothetical-deductive method, analysis of scientific literature, secondary analysis of empirical studies, analysis of state statistics. As the main was used estate structure approach and variants of the socio-cultural approach. Structural and functional concepts were also used. Results. It was found that the elements of estate class structure such as titular or non-titular estates are not equally represented in different regions of the country. The definition of the concept of socio-cultural integration of regions is introduced. The role of the estate class structure of the regions in the process of their socio-cultural integration is determined. It is concluded that the combination of estate and stratification (class) structures of society, due to the inevitable contradictions between them, can lead to the emergence of institutional, value and other social conflicts that act as an obstacle to effective socio-cultural integration of regions. This may lead to the socio-cultural fragmentation and disintegration of regions. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study can be used to enhance the effectiveness of the socio-cultural integration of Russian regions, as well as to improve regional social policy. Further analysis of this problem involves the conducting of comparative studies based a special technique that makes it possible to identify people’s belonging to certain estates, social classes and strata.

MODERN STATISTICAL TRENDS OF EMPLOYMENT AND OUTPUT OF PRODUCTS IN THE REGIONS OF GEORGIA

Simon Gelashvili
 E-mail: simon.gelashvili@tsu.ge
 Doctor of Economic Sciences, Professor Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University 
 Tbilisi, Georgia
 https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8574-9383
 Abstract: The presented work concerns a very relevant topic - the quantitative research of employment and output of products in the administrative regions of Georgia. What is the employment situation according to the administrative regions of the country is of great economic and social importance. The purpose of the research is to identify and evaluate statistical trends in employment and output of products. The analysis period covers the years 2010-2022. Accordingly, on the basis of official statistical data, appropriate indicators are calculated, their changes are determined and their mutual comparison is given.
 In the research process, methods of statistical science are used, such as: data grouping, relative, average and variation indicators, presentation, etc. 
 As a result of the conducted analysis, it was determined that the obtained indicators are heterogeneous according to various signs - according to regions, according to time, volume of employment level, volume of released products and labor productivity. According to the mentioned indicators, very different trends were revealed.
 To determine the degree of economic inequality of regions, it is of great importance to study their economic activity, to identify and evaluate appropriate trends. Such an analysis, first of all, allows to determine different types of disproportion, which is a good basis for developing and implementing regional economic and social policies. The level of economic development of the country's administrative regions can be assessed by various quantitative and qualitative criteria. In this case, the following quantitative criteria will be considered: the level of employment, the volume of output of product and the level of labor productivity.
 Analyzing the data of the official statistics, it is clear that Adjara and Imereti take the leading position after Tbilisi in terms of the number of employees, where the number of employees increased in 2010-2022. In these regions, the population is relatively larger, which, of course, is proportionally reflected in the level of employment. In the analysis period, the average annual number of employees in all administrative regions of Georgia is characterized by a clearly expressed rapid growth trend: the number of employees increased 2 times and more in Mtskheta-Mtianeti (2.7times), Guria - 2.5 times and Adjara - 2.4 times. Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions showed relatively lower growth rate.
 One of the main characteristics of the region's economic activity is the volume of output of the product per employee on average, which measures the level of labor productivity. We have calculated the mentioned indicator according to all administrative regions of Georgia, on the basis of which it is possible to statistically assess the level of labor productivity in the regions according to each year of the analysis period and also to reveal a 12-year trend. In 2010, the highest level of labor productivity was in Kvemo Kartli, Mtskheta-Mtianeti and St. in Tbilisi, and the lowest in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, as well as in Kakheti. The positioning of these regions according to the mentioned indicator was the same in 2022.
 An important statistical characteristic is the positioning of regions according to the share of output of product. In 2022, the city is in the leading position with this indicator. Tbilisi, which is not surprising, because the largest part of the enterprises of the real sector of the economy is located here. The next position is held by Adjara, which moved from the 4th position in 2010 to the second and Kvemo Kartli. Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti and Guria are in the last positions with the smallest share. These 2 regions were in the same positions in 2010.
 As a result of the comparative analysis of the indicators of the employment level and the volume of output and the evaluation of the range of variation, a disproportion of different degrees between individual regions was revealed, which has a certain impact on economic growth and the level of socio-economic inequality.

Country Folk in Russia: Specific of Social Integration

The article presents the analysis of social integration factors of the country folk, living in four rural areas in Belgorod region (Russia). The study had two stages and included quantitative as well as qualitative research methods: first of all, the survey (n = 715) of country people aged 18–70 in order to explore the specific features of their social integration process; secondly, the expert survey (n = 23) devoted to study the activities of main social agents, managing regional social policy and including government and non-government organizations. As a result, the main factors, influencing the effectiveness of social integration of the country folk have been identified: 1) the maintenance of traditions and an active participation in rural community's life; 2) the infrastructure's development and the transportation accessibility; 3) the economy's type; 4) the type of settlement (town, village); 5) the degree of trust in local authorities and the assessment of local social services' activities. It is essential to take into account that the current processes of social integration of the country people, on the one hand, are due to the consequences of urbanization as a world trend and, on the other hand, it is due to the influence of a new, reverse process of de-urbanization. The results of the study conclude that current state social policy should be more effective to bridge the gap between the social conditions of people living in cities and rural areas, especially with regard to the access to education, health and social services, transportation, employment, etc. The improvement of quality of life of villagers allows to revive the most of rural settlements and attract youth to village.

РЕАЛІЗАЦІЯ ПОЛІТИКИ СОЦІАЛЬНОГО ЗАХИСТУ НА РЕГІОНАЛЬНОМУ РІВНІ

The purpose of the article is to consider the specifics of the social protection policy at the regional level and justify the proposals for its further development. The relevance of this study is the need to find ways to improve the social protection of vulnerable sections of the population of Ukraine, who suffered as a result of active military operations on the territory of Ukraine. The research methodology is based on general scientific methods such as analysis and synthesis, which are used to evaluate the main social indicators and draw conclusions about the current state of social protection in the regions of Ukraine. Also, the research in the article was carried out on the basis of the abstract-logical method, according to which proposals are presented and conclusions are drawn regarding the further development of the regional social protection policy. The result of the scientific research of this article is the argumentation that in modern conditions the policy of social protection at the regional level is carried out within the framework of the decentralized model of providing social services in Ukraine. The article shows the advantages of the decentralized model compared to the centralized one and proves that the regional aspect of social protection of vulnerable population groups enables direct contact between recipients and providers of social services, which is an indisputable advantage. The practical value of the article is the substantiation of further ways of development of the regional social protection policy in Ukraine within the perspective model of the organization of providing social services. It is shown that the basis of this model should be the functioning of executive authorities at the regional level, which should perform the corresponding functions assigned to them within the framework of the implementation of social protection policy tasks at the regional level. In particular, we are talking about organizational, monitoring, coordination, analytical, informational, controlling and financing functions. It is concluded that the implementation of the social protection policy at the regional level within the framework of the decentralization implemented in Ukraine is intended to demonstrate better results than the centralized model of the implementation of social protection, taking into account the high level of corruption in the Ukrainian state, as well as significant bureaucratic requirements for carrying out certain operations in the sphere social protection.

Пространственное регулирование развития старопромышленных территорий: теоретический аспект

Achievement of the effectiveness of programs and activities of the state regional policy in relation to various types of regions requires constant development of its methodological basis in order to take into account the most relevant achievements of domestic and foreign scientific thought. The purpose of the article is to summarize the theoretical foundations of spatial regulation and regional development of regional policy in relation to old industrial territories, taking into account the features and problems of their functioning and development. It is shown that foreign and domestic scientists associate the phenomenon of old industry with the achievement of the limit of growth of the regional economy. The theoretical basis of modern regional policy is the theories of spatial economics, first of all, the theory of poles (centers) of growth. The evolutionary approach to solving the problems of old industrial regions is widely used in the practice of public administration. At the turn of the 20th – 21st centuries, the conceptual provisions of the theory of the creative class and the concept of the “learning region” began to be used in the establishment of state programs to support old industrial territories. The study of theoretical approaches to the problems of spatial regulation and regional development showed that regional social and economic policy, coordinated with the macroeconomic policy of the state, is a necessary condition for the resolution of territorial contradictions in the development of the national economy, while the policy of regional authorities is considered as a key factor in ensuring sustainable social and economic development of old industrial territories. Specific threats to the old industrial regions’ sustainable socio-economic development require special support, as well as the reflection of the priorities of state support for old industrial territories in the key document of spatial strategizing. It is the Spatial Development Strategy of the Russian Federation.

The role and place of the Tyumen Region in the economy of the Ural Federal District and Russia

The relevance of the issue under study is intensified in the current economic situation with the sanctions imposed against Russia: the economic development of the country depends on its regions. In these conditions, the role and importance of conducting a study of the socio-economic situation (SES) of the regions increases. The Rating agency RIA Rating annually surveys and ranks the SES of the RF subjects based on the study of indicators united into four groups: the scale of economy, efficiency, budgetary, and social spheres — as well as the rating of the population’s quality of life accounting for more than 70 indicators united in 11 groups. In both ratings, the agency does not rely on the Gross Regional Product (GRP), though in the author’s opinion, it is the main indicator of the regional economy. The article considers the role of the Tyumen Region in the economy of the district and the country through the prism of GRP, indicators considered in the SES rating, and quality of life. The article aims to determine the economic role and significance of the Tyumen Region, the impact of the region’s level of economic development on the quality of life of its population. The study is based on the official data from Rosstat and RIA Rating. The study has shown the existence of interrelation of GRP indicators, socio-economic status, and quality of life. The practical significance of the study lies in the perspective of using its data in practical activities in the development of regional social policy.

THE RECENT ECOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY DEVELOPMENT IN CHINA: INTERACTIVE SYSTEMS OF ECONOMY, SOCIETY AND ENVIRONMENT

Ecological efficiency (EE) provides much reference for formulating appropriate regional economic, social and environmental policies to promote sustainable development. Interactive subsystems of economy, society and environment within EE system have been considered in this paper. By innovatively integrating the merits of two advanced economic research methods (global super efficiency network data envelopment analysis (GSE-NDEA) and panel vector autoregression (PVAR) and updating the EE evaluation indicator system by following the new features of sustainable development in the recent China, this paper comprehensively evaluates EE by drawing evidence from 3 regions in China during the period of 2011–2020, and further reveals how the three subsystems within EE system interact to achieve EE enhancement. The findings show EE and its three subsystems’ trend, the major constrains of EE development, the regional discrepancies in EE progress, and the interactions among the subsystems of economy-society-environment within the EE system in different regions of China. The policy implications are proposed accordingly.

Socio-economic inequality in Kazakhstani regions: Assessment and impact on regional development management

Excessive differentiation of socio-economic development of regions leads to the collapse of a single socio-economic space and the emergence of socio-economic inequality. This study assessed socio-economic inequality in Kazakhstan and its impact on regional development management. It analyzed interregional disproportion of socio-economic development of regions through the index approach using statistical data from the Bureau of National Statistics for 2011–2019. A comprehensive study of the socio-economic development of Kazakhstan and its regional differences employed the proposed index of social and economic development. It was revealed that Kazakhstan has a high level of interregional differentiation of socio-economic development, which indicates the existing socio-economic inequality, requiring the development of new and improvement of existing mechanisms to create an inclusive economy. There are significant gaps in socio-economic development between Kazakhstani regions. According to the proposed index, Kazakhstan is at the above-average level (42, B). From 2011 to 2019, the index was practically at the same level (39-42). The average social and economic development was shown by Almaty (61.1, B++), Nur-Sultan (59.9, B+), Karaganda (53.1, B+), and East Kazakhstan (51.0, B+). Low social and economic development was shown by Akmola (29.8, C+) and North Kazakhstan (22.4, C+). The difference in the socio-economic development of the regions is directly interconnected with the regional economic and social policy. According to the results, to implement state policy in inclusive development and overcome socio-economic inequality, respective measures should promote economic integration, including the mechanisms of regional, industrial, and research policy, comprising all levels of state regulation. AcknowledgmentsThis study is supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan within the project “The science impact on Kazakhstan’s socio-economic development: methodology, assessment models and development scenarios” (IRN AP08052745).

Influence of the Crisis on Saint Petersburg’s Public Health and the Goals of Social Policy

ABSTRACT The goal of this article is to assess the influence of the 2014 economic crisis on the health of Saint Petersburg’s residents. The conventional hypothesis holds that the crisis negatively affected the public’s health and living environment. This hypothesis was tested by looking at changes in more than twenty public health indicators and factors affecting public health. In order to assess precrisis trends, a linear trend was constructed for each indicator and factor, and extrapolated values were calculated for 2015 and 2016. Deviations from these trends were the main measures of the crisis’s effect on these indicators. This research uncovered negative deviations from the trends of all indicators, but there were especially significant deviations in environmental protection, health care resources, and consumption of a number of foods. It is shown that the city’s current program for health care development has understated target values and does not take into account ecological factors. This reduces its effectiveness as an instrument of regional social policy. The proposed method calculates scientifically justified targets for programs to rebuild the city’s social services.

Mechanisms of State Regional Socio-Economic Policy in Ukraine

Socio-economic problems of regional development in Ukraine necessitate attention to the mechanisms of state regional socio-economic policy. Modern scholars in the field of public administration pay special attention to the study of the mechanisms of state regional socio-economic policy. However, the issues of improving the mechanisms of the state regional socio-economic policy remain insufficiently researched. Theoretical principles of the state regional social and economic policy, its mechanisms and directions of their improvement are investigated. It is noted that in modern conditions the state is engaged in socio-economic sphere at the regional level to stimulate effective development of productive forces of regions, rational use of resources, ensuring a high standard of living, environmental security and improving the territorial organization of society. Socio-economic transformations that have taken place in recent years in Ukraine indicate the need to improve the mechanisms of state regional socio-economic policy. Lack of interconnected regulatory framework through which the state would consistently influence regional socio-economic development, imperfection of organizational, economic and information support of state regional socio-economic policy in Ukraine leads to the construction of a comprehensive mechanism of state regional socio-economic policy, which should be aimed at ensuring the achievement of the objectives of such a policy, to increase its effectiveness. In the context of modern global challenges, special attention should be paid to the strategic approach to the state regional socio-economic policy in Ukraine.

Благосостояние как мера обеспеченности благами населения

The state socioeconomic policy aimed at increasing the well-being of the population should be based on a scientific foundation and reasonable estimates. The article deals with topical issues of assessment and interregional comparisons of the level of population well-being. The study includes a review of scientific research on population well-being. The concept of the population well-being is defined as a measure of population's sufficient provision with material, social and spiritual benefits. A methodological approach to assessing the level of the population well-being in regions is proposed, indicators of living standards in different regions are compared. Calculations of the integral well-being index for the subjects of the Russian Federation are presented. The regions of the Ural Federal District were ranked according to the criteria of the Gini index. The analysis of the obtained results showed a significant differentiation of regions by the level of well-being, which indicates the socioeconomic polarization of the population living in different regions of the Ural Federal District. The findings adequately reflect the real situation in terms of well-being in the regions of the Ural Federal District and can be useful in developing measures of regional social policy and assessing its effectiveness.

Regional differences in Bulgarian population ageing

Abstract Background Europeans are living longer than ever, and the age profile of society is rapidly changing. Despite the observed improvement in public health in the European region, for many people old age is accompanied by a high risk of social exclusion and poverty, limited access to quality health and social services, especially in countries with economies in transition. This poses serious challenges for individuals and society. This report aims to analyse the basic regional differences of ageing in Bulgaria. Methods Information from the World Bank Open Data was used to calculate the basic indicators: proportion of people 65+ and ageing index for selected European countries. To estimate the rate of change, the growth of ageing index (in %) was calculated on a constant basis in 1970. The regional differences of ageing for Bulgarian population were analysed based on the National Statistical Institute data. The absolute numbers for regions were regrouped and the main indicators for population ageing were calculated. Analysis and calculation procedures were performed by Microsoft Office Excel 2019. Results By 2019, in fourteen of sixteen selected European countries, the ageing index exceeded 100%, and in four countries, it was even over 150%: Italy (174.78%), Portugal (168.70%), Greece (157.89%) and Bulgaria (150.07%). In Bulgaria, the proportion of people 65+ was 21.64% with great differences by regions. The highest proportions were found for Vidin and Gabrovo (29,94% and 29.05% respectively) compared to 19.24% for Varna and 17.70% for Sofia. The ageing index varies from 109.40% for the region of Sliven, 126.38% for Varna and 119.91% for Sofia to 248.63% for Vidin, 248.17% for Gabrovo, and 227.98% for Kyustendil, which are the regions with lower availability of health care. Conclusions The profound regional differences in population ageing impose permanent monitoring and directing the regional social and public health policies to avoid unfavourable effects of this process. Key messages The change of health status with increasing age is a challenge for the capacity of the health systems, especially for provision of long-term care, to cover the needs of the elderly. It is of utmost importance to develop policies and conditions for long-term and palliative care and for improvement of services and living conditions to ensure a better quality of life.

Интегральная оценка эффективности региональной жилищной политики городских округов в условиях цифровизации

Traditionally, an assessment of efficiency of regional housing policy is based on studies of housing construction sector, housing market, investment attractiveness, migration of economically active population and others. But the current stage of urbanization in Russia is accelerated by digitalization and smart technologies in cities, which makes a new type of housing policy assessment necessary. The article presents a four-level methodology for assessing the efficiency of regional housing policy, which evaluates the regional social and economic policy in the construction industry for urban districts with the population over 100,000 citizens in conditions of digitalization. The methodological basis for calculating the integral indicator of housing policy efficiency is presented and visualized in vectors. The author’s methodology is based on the methodological approach of S.A. Ayvazyan and the methodology of the urban digitalization index “IQ of Cities”, which was created by the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation in cooperation with Lomonosov Moscow State University. In the process of calculation the final integral indicator of efficiency of housing policy the authors use three equivalent integrated indicators of the 2nd level, such as economic, housing and digital indicators. The paper presents 10 indices for each integral indicator of the 3rd level and explains their economic meaning. The calculation of these indicators is carried out by means of the basic indicators of the 4th level on the basis of official statistics. The study presents the results of testing the authors’ methodological approach, which was made on the basis of official regional statistics. In the process of testing different cities from all federal districts of the Russian Federation were selected, so their results had a large spread. The purpose of such selection was to demonstrate the efficiency of the model and its suitability for the federal and regional authorities as a tool for planning and control.