The increase in state social payments to the poorest segments of the Russian population led to the rate of increase in their income more than double the rate of inflation in the country. About informs Bloomberg agency, which refers to the calculations of analysts of its economic division (Bloomberg Economics).
According to the Ministry of Economic Development (Ministry of Economic Development), the increase in inflation in Russia in 2022 amounted to 11.9%. Despite the increase in social payments to the poorest sections of the population, on the contrary, the prospects for representatives of the Russian middle class are still not so optimistic. The note states that, in the context of international sanctions, they are actually on their own right now.
“Russia now allocates about two-thirds of its budget to defense, security and social programs. The increase in social transfers has increased the income of the poorest strata of the population at more than twice the rate of inflation, the only group doing so well,” the material says.
According to Natalia Zubarevich, professor at the Department of Economic and Social Geography of Russia at Moscow State University, the economic policy of the Russian authorities is primarily aimed at representatives of the poor. The remaining categories are forced to rely on their own financial capabilities.
“The state targets the poor and those close to the poor. Zubarevich said the message to the middle class was: “Goodbye guys, you’re on your own.”
December 14, Doctor of Geographical Sciences Natalya Zubarevich statedThat the real income of Russians has fallen by 8-9% “without Rosstat adjustments” since 2013. But even in the most optimistic scenario, the decline would not go below 7-8%. At the same time, the situation in the regions is worse than in federal cities, including Moscow.