Since the Soviet Union broke apart in 1991, the transition has been difficult for many Russians. It has been an enormous adjustment that they were not prepared for. Many poor people frequently express the view that they were better off under communism.
With the sudden shift to a market economy and privatization of public enterprises, tons of industries collapsed. This led to more unemployment, lost or reduced social assistance and wage arrears for many. Some are offered “payment in kind” but this is obviously not a preferred payment method because it doesn’t give people what they need.
- The proportion of poverty in Russia ranges between 19 and 49% depending on who is doing the study and what data they are using.
- Studies indicate only 8% of social assistance reaches the poorest tenth of the population and one fifth of poor households receive nothing at all. Government cutbacks have cut into maternity benefits as well. In 1991 maternity benefits accounted for 77.3% of the total amount of funds but by 2003, it was only 32.4%.
Russians describe normal life
Almost half of the people participating in "Russian’s Voices of the Poor" study said they were not poor in childhood. Participants express what they consider a “normal life” and that is characterized by what they had under communism. In Teikovo, a participant defined a normal life as “having a regular job with a good, regular salary, and the possibility to buy food, new clothes, and medicine.” Another said, “A good life is when you drink coffee every morning, butter your bread and buy sugar to make your life sweet.”
- Corruption and organized crime has also escalated along with the new government. Numerous participants describe how they are sometimes tempted to break laws out of desperation.
When families face increased financial hardships, alcoholism and divorce tend to increase. Frustration at being idle can lead some to drink more, which increases the conflict in the home adding further stress to families. Sometimes women become the main breadwinners and that can be humiliating to men who have traditionally provided for their families.
- Divorced women often have the added burden of becoming the sole provider to their family. They are frequently stuck accepting low paying and/or demeaning jobs. This is an unfortunate occurrence all over the world and not just in Russia. Most employers are no longer providing schools and daycare centers for children in Russia. This leaves single parents struggling more than they did before.
Suggested Changes in Russia
- Legal action needs to be taken against those who are not paying fair wages.
- Better social assistance programs need to be implemented for children and the elderly in Russia. This would help ensure that they received proper food, health care, education, childcare and housing.
Sources: (Study, The Russian Federation: Struggling Against the Tide, Alexey Levinson, Olga Stouchevskaya, Oxana Bocharova, Anton Lerner) (Child Poverty in Russia, UNICEF, Dr.Lilia Ovcharova, Daria Popova)
