Universal basic income as a regulator of increasing the standard and quality of life of citizens and society sustainability: problems and possible ways of their solution. discussion at the Russian-German international conference. Moscow. May 20, 2021

This paper examines international discourse borders regarding theoretical and practical problems of Universal basic income concept through the prism of the scientific discussion which took place in May 2021 at the International Scientific Russian-German Conference «Universal basic income as a regulatory measure for improvement of citizens’ standard and quality of life improvement and social sustainability: problems and possible solutions». The authors presented the digests of the speakers' speeches, which formed the scientific basis of the article devoted to the conceptualization of the phenomenon of universal basic income (UBI), scientific, political, and state aspects of the discourse on the implementation of UBI, the problems of introduction of UBI in transitional forms, the practice of the experimental introduction of UBI, modeling the consequences of the introduction of UBI, the impact of UBI on various aspects of life, etc. The materials of the above-mentioned Conference depict the main problematic edges of UBI concept exploration as well as implementation issues and allow to determine directions of further appliances. The most important ones are – search for country-specific transitional forms of UBI and instruments for its experimental approbation in order to improve quality of life and social sustainability of the society. The discussion at the Conference about the UBI concept is commented in the paper in the context of factual actions of Russian and German officials, ideas and suggestions of the international scientific community, and the need for a transition towards greater and complex UBI piloting, considering aspects examined in detail at the International BIEN Congress (August 2021), Glasgow, Scotland

Comprehensive assessment of the citizen wellbeing in the territory of residence: taking into account the changing influence of indicators economic security

The article considers a generalizing characteristic of the citizen's wellbeing in the territory of residence, assesses indicators based on statistical data, and makes adjustments due to safety indicators. The author's diagnostic technique was used, which includes corrective indicators. For this purpose, the method of express diagnostics was applied, which made it possible to select the 8 most significant from 12 modules and 43 indicators of economic security. The rate of change of each of the 8 indicators was taken into account, which made it possible to determine the changes in these indicators and the predisposition to one degree or another of the socio-economic crisis. A change in the trend of an indicator can lead to the opposite effect at the expense of other main influencing indexes. This takes into account the borderline state of the indicator, namely, its rate of growth or decline and predisposition to a particular crisis zone. The turning zones of the trend of changes in indicators have been determined. The object of the research is the well-being of the individual in the territory of residence for each subject of the Ural Federal District. The authors made an attempt to consider in the analysis not just the population of the subject (the number of people), but also to assess the personality from the standpoint of moral development, the level of education, the available opportunities for spiritual development, the provision of benefits necessary to maintain life and the degree of satisfaction of the needs of the population. This will allow to carry out the current analysis of the state, but also to consider the forecast dynamics of change for the next 2 to 3 years. The results obtained can be used in the current assessment of the socio-economic situation in the regions of Russia, as well as in planning and forecasting individual indicators of individual citizen wellbeing in the territory of residence

Economic development trends and aspects of healthcare reform in Russia under COVID-2019 pandemic

The article is aimed at studying the state of the Russian economy and health care system before and after the COVID-2019 pandemic, identifying the main trends in the economy and health care, regardless of the pandemic, as well as its impact on the socioeconomic development of the country. The interrelation and mutual influence of the levels of development of the economy and health care of the country is noted. An analysis of the state of the economy and health care system in Russia for 2017–2019 is presented, problems and achievements in the pre-pandemic period are identified. The COVID-2019 pandemic is considered not only from the point of view of a medical manifestation but as a powerful trigger that provoked large-scale socioeconomic changes in the world, as a bifurcation point in world development, requiring states to objectively assess the state of the economy and healthcare, revise the current coordinate system, getting out of the state of uncertainty and choosing promising areas of socioeconomic development. A cross-country analysis of the response of various health systems to the COVID-19 pandemic has shown the advantages of countries with centralized management, health financing, and subordinate sanitary and epidemiological services. Along with the achievements of Russia in the fight against COVID-19, the existing specific problems of the domestic health care system are noted, which negatively affected the preparedness for a pandemic. Analyzed the consequences of the COVID-2019 pandemic for the socio-economic state of countries at the global level. The change in socio-economic indicators in Russia in 2020 compared to 2019 is presented as a result of the consequences of the COVID-2019 pandemic. The main results of the study are to identify the main trends in the development of the economy and the healthcare system in Russia in the context of the ongoing COVID-2019 pandemic, defining the directions of reforming the national healthcare, trajectories of increasing the level of socioeconomic development of the country

The minimum social guarantee of employees’ wages in Russia: 2020-2021

In 2021 the methodological approaches to the assessment of the minimum wage and the subsistence minimum level (SML) undergone significant changes. According to federal law No 473-FZ of December 29, 2020, these minimum social guarantees are to be calculated relative to the median wage (at 42%) and the median per capita income (at 44.2%) for the past year. This article reviews the changes in the minimum social guarantees as regards employees’ wages in Russia and its regions in the past two years. A new methodology for estimating the median wages had not been developed by the start of 2021. According to Law No 473-FZ the federal minimum wage was set using the Pension Fund data at the rate of 12792 rubles per month. The majority of regions used the federal minimum wage as the basis for defining regional minimum wages. A comparative analysis of regional minimum wages in 2020 and 2021 was carried out for two groups of regions, the regions with regular climate conditions and the regions with special (extreme) climate conditions where the regional coefficient for wages is applied. The analysis shows that in 2021 the minimum wage increased by 5,5% compared to 2020 in most regions. The exception is 11 regions of the Russian Federation, where the minimum wage was set at an increased rate compared to the federal level. The article analyses the ratio of the minimum wage and means wage of all employees in 45 regions of the Russian Federation with normal climate conditions and in 16 regions with extreme climate conditions, where a unified rayon coefficient is set up at the territory of the region. The dynamics of this indicator allows for estimating the trends in wage inequality

Labour migration in the border region according to online recruitment data (based on the materials of Amur Region)

Amur Region (also named Amur Oblast) is a border region of Russia, characterized by socio-economic disadvantages (low standard of living, high prices) and unfavorable climatic conditions in part of the territory. Major projects in the field of construction, transportation, industrial production, fuel, and energy are being implemented in this region: the Vostochny Cosmodrome, the Amur Gas Processing Plant, etc. Territories of accelerated socioeconomic development (the Russian acronym is TOR) are being created. The regional government is making efforts to increase the investment attractiveness of the region, which is of interest to the business communities of neighboring countries. We formulate the portrait of a typical potential migrant worker who is ready to relocate to work in the Amur Region. According to the data of Internet recruitment, we show that the migration inflow prevails for the purpose of rotational basis (temporary) work. We identify the most significant donor regions, popular industries, and median salary expectations of potential migrant workers. We pay attention to the fact that the salaries of rotational basis workers are, on average, noticeably higher than the salaries of the local population: it becomes an additional factor of social tension. The incomes of rotational basis workers increase the values of regional average salaries, but in reality, this money does not remain inside Amur Region. Disproportions in the labour market are one more factor in the growth of inequality in the region, which additionally provokes the outflow of the local population from the region. Accordingly, the implementation of large-scale construction and fuel and energy projects in its current form is unable to overcome negative demographic trends, because it cannot individually solve the complex problems of socio-economic development of the Russian Amur river region. Social programs, such as «Zemsky Teacher» and «Zemsky Doctor», are not of a systematic nature. Ultimately, the social sector continues to degrade and does not receive a meaningful inflow of new highly qualified specialists (doctors, teachers, scientists, etc.) from outside.

Age differentiation of perception of anti-COVID measures (results of focus groups in the Kaliningrad Region)

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a key problem for Russian society and government officials in 2020. In this regard, there is an urgency to study the assessments and peculiarities of the perception by the population of anti-covid measures of the authorities, which were initially associated with risks of a social, economic, and political nature. The purpose of this study is to identify age-related features of the perception of anti-epidemic measures of the authorities, using the example of residents of the Kaliningrad region. From August to November 2020, six focus group interviews were conducted with representatives of three age groups. The data obtained were processed in the ATLAS.ti qualitative analysis program. As a result, it was revealed that the main age differences are manifested when assessing the introduction of remote forms of social interaction in the conditions of coronavirus. The older generation's negative attitude to innovation is due to concern for their grandchildren and children receiving the necessary educational and communication skills and competencies in this format, as well as due to fears of being deceived by fraudsters. At the same time, young people and middle-aged people note the positive possibilities of distance learning due to the simplification of the implementation of a number of social actions. Age differences were also revealed regarding the perception of information about the pandemic situation provided by government representatives. The youth believes that the distortion of this information may be based on the political motives of the authorities. Representatives of the older age group believe that the reason for the correction of information by the authorities is the desire to obtain financial benefits at the expense of the population. People in the age group of 31-49 years see this distortion mainly as a good motive for preventing panic among the population. Estimates of the introduction of self-isolation and the attitude to mass vaccination against COVID-19 were similar among representatives of different generations. Often supporting the regime of self-isolation, respondents noted the obligation of the authorities to ensure the financial security of people. Regarding the use of the vaccine, skepticism was found among all age groups due to fears about its unreliability

Growth quality and income inequality: cross-country analysis

The article is devoted to the construction and implementation of an econometric model for quantitative assessment of the impact of cross-country, international, and national income inequality on the dynamics and quality of growth of four groups of countries with different levels of development. A substantial analysis of numerous Russian and foreign research that discover the dynamics and quality of growth was carried out. On this basis, we conclude that income inequality is an important characteristic of the quality of growth of both the national and global economies. To study the relationship between inequality and economic growth, the research uses two concepts proposed by the World Bank – cross-country and international inequality. The distinction of this study from all other known works is not in identifying the genesis of the phenomenon of «inequality», but in focusing on the development of concepts of inequality between countries and quantity assessment of their impact on the growth of economies with different income levels (high, above average, below average and low). This development contributes to the expansion of the research landscape that analyses the relationship between economic growth and inequality. The implementation of the constructed model of cross-country regression confirmed the assumption on the negative impact of three types of inequality on countries with different income levels. At that, the degree of their influence for four groups of countries is shown with a different time lag. The statistically significant empirical results are the convincing scientific basis for evidence-based policy while developing an adequate economic policy by national governments, especially in modern conditions

Sustainable development and new forms of work. A scenario of common, basic challenges for public and private players (International Labour Forum – Academic Discussion «Employment and the Labour Market: Contours of De-Standardisation» St.Petersburg, 23 Apr

The article illustrates the implications for the world of work of two decisive factors of change in the global situation: the joint commitment of states to promote sustainable development according to the normative guidelines of the United Nations and the effects of the pandemic crisis. It proposes the reference to the institutionalist theoretical approach as the most appropriate to provide a valid interpretation of the diversity of orientations in economic and social development policies, including labour policies, which occur on the global scene. The article presents the analyzes on the professions of the future and the relative employment prospects for 2030 contained in two studies developed in Italy on the basis of predictive models that applied specific Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques, officially presented in the first half of 2021. Presented research recalls the ultimate meaning of the phenomenon of structural crisis, the value of institutionalist theory in understanding the complexity of the processes of development, and progress of communities and, in the context of the choice for sustainability, the importance of the changes that lie ahead in the world of work in relation to the specific green and digital transition processes currently promoted by the states. Article’s findings may stimulate research on predictive models in the field of employment and new professions projected beyond short-term trends, in the broader dimensions of perspectives and scenarios

Problems of socioeconomic development of the districts of the central ecological zone of Lake Baikal in the Irkutsk Region, demographic and environmental factors

The article deals with the current demographic, economic, social, and environmental problems of three districts of the Irkutsk Region, which are part of the Central Ecological Zone of the Baikal Natural Territory. The study was conducted using statistical data from the Federal State Statistics Service, articles and monographs on the topic under consideration, data from sociological surveys, mass media, and information obtained during a scientific expedition to Lake Baikal, in which the author participated. The socio-economic development of municipalities within the boundaries of the Central Ecological Zone of Lake Baikal remains difficult due to environmental legislation that restricts the economic development of the territory. The inability to fully use land resources provokes the local population to migrate. Tourism is one of the few economic activities permitted in the coastal area of the Lake Baikal. Despite the growing number of tourists visiting the region every year, the weak level of economic diversification of the municipalities threatens the prospects for sustainable socio-economic development. The region risks losing most of its revenue in the event of political, economic, or epidemiological shocks. The development of other types of economic activities will contribute to the socio-economic security of the areas under consideration. This is also influenced by the demographic potential of the territory – the employment of local residents and the training of personnel will allow us to effectively implement alternative directions of economic development. It is also important to develop other types of economic activities in connection with the negative impact of tourists on the ecosystem of Lake Baikal. The revision of the approaches to the economic, social, and environmental policies carried out in the region is an urgent task today

Social narcissism – how society pushes us to overestimate our capacities, leaving many behind

The following introduces the concept of overlife, not claiming that it is an entirely new idea, however suggesting that it is a suitable term to bring different problems of contemporary societal development together. Broadly speaking, overload is defined as simultaneously condensing patterns of life and the actual living, i.e. intensifying living by establishing patterns of multitasking; however, doing so occurs for the price of a shallowed concept of life by a differentiated system of standardization. Simplification of cognition and education, not least in the context of digitization, are important factors: The apparently increasing control, everybody experiences, goes hand-in-hand with increasing difficulties of understanding – and enjoying – the complexity with which we are confronted. Still, although this seems to be a secular process concerning humanity and humans in general, control and power remains in the hands of a few who, as individuals and corporations, design life and society. Paradoxically, the theoretically gained possibility to answer complex questions and develop long-term perspectives, turns, at least under capitalist conditions, into narcissistic idiosyncrasies, and wasting huge amounts of monies for the thrill of egos instead of strategically developing socio-economic strategies addressing major challenges as poverty, environmental threats, digitisation and new forms of stupidification