ECONOMIC RESEARCH

TITLE

Regional Wage Policy in the Public Sector: the Experience of the Donetsk People's Republic

Aleksey V. Polovyan, Karina I. Sinitsyna

000

2.828 MB

Full text

RAR (Research Article Report)

JEL J31, J38, H75, H77, R12

https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2026_22_1_7_105_116

AUTHORS

Aleksey V. Polovyan

Economic Research Institute, Donetsk, Russia

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8570-6202

SPIN-code: 1032-1859

RSCI Author ID: 819830

ResearcherID: S-8479-2017

Scopus Author ID: 57200791954

Karina I. Sinitsyna

Economic Research Institute, Donetsk, Russia

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4893-5089

SPIN-code: 2749-9386

RSCI Author ID: 951988

ResearcherID: R-3091-2017

FOR CITATION

Polovyan A.V., Sinitsyna K.I. Regional Wage Policy in the Public Sector: the Experience of the Donetsk People's Republic. Uroven' Zhizni Naseleniya Regionov Rossii=Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia. 2026;22(1):105–116. https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2026_22_1_7_105_116 (In Russ.)

ABSTRACT

This study examines the remuneration system for employees of state and municipal institutions in the Donetsk People’s Republic within the context of its integration into the socio-economic space of the Russian Federation. The purpose of the work is a comprehensive analysis of the current legal and regulatory acts governing the remuneration system for employees of state and municipal institutions in the Donetsk People's Republic, identifying their weaknesses and contradictions, as well as formulating practical proposals to improve the remuneration system, taking into account the principles of social justice, efficiency and sustainability. The methodological framework combines legal and comparative legal analysis, statistical and institutional approaches, supplemented by qualitative content analysis and expert evaluation. The empirical basis includes Government Resolution of the Donetsk People’s Republic dated 03/16/2023 No. 17-2, federal and regional regulatory acts, Rosstat data, reports from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy of the Donetsk People’s Republic, and analytical materials from academic and expert sources published between 2020 and 2025. The study finds that, despite the high level of detail in the current wage structure, the system perpetuates inter-sectoral and inter-regional disparities, fails to ensure a decent wage level (e.g., in the scientific sector, wages are 2–4 times lower than in neighboring regions of the Russian Federation), and ties incentive payments to volatile budgetary conditions. The hypothesis is confirmed that the lack of guaranteed, systematic indexation and transparent performance evaluation criteria exacerbates workforce instability and undermines the quality of public services. The findings underscore the need to transition toward a flexible yet predictable wage model grounded in mandatory income indexation, differentiation based on qualifications and working conditions, and harmonization between federal and regional regulatory frameworks.

KEYWORDS

remuneration, public sector, regional integration, incentive payments, tariff wage system, social equity, human resources policy, income indexation, legal and regulatory framework

INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Aleksey V. Polovyan

Doctor of Economics, Associate Professor, Director, Economic Research Institute.

Karina I. Sinitsyna

PhD in Economics, Head of the Department of Interdisciplinary Scientific Research, Innovation and Training of Scientific and Pedagogical Staff, Economic Research Institute.

REFERENCES

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2. Soboleva I.V., Sobolev E.N. Employee Well-Being in a Labor-Deficit Economy. Vestnik Instituta ehkonomiki Rossiiskoi akademii nauk=Bulletin of the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 2025;(5):7-26. https://doi.org/10.52180/2073-6487_2025_5_7_26 (In Russ.)

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15. Polovyan A.V., Sinitsyna K.I. Key Aspects of the Integration of the Donetsk People’s Republic into the Economic Space of the Russian Federation. Rossiya: obshchestvo, politika, istoriya=Russia: Society, Politics, History. 2024;(2(11)):146-172. https://doi.org/10.56654/ROPI-2024-2(11)-146-172 (In Russ.)

ECONOMIC RESEARCH

TITLE

On the Sustainability of the Standard of Living of Russian Households

Elena V. Odintsova

000

2.828 MB

Full text

RAR (Research Article Report)

JEL I31, P36, R21

https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2026_22_1_6_87_104

AUTHOR

Elena V. Odintsova

Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7906-8520

SPIN-code: 1866-4793

ResearcherID: U-7061-2019

FOR CITATION

Odintsova Е.V. On the sustainability of the standard of living of Russian households. Uroven' zhizni naseleniya regionov Rossii=Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia. 2026;22(1):87–104. https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2026_22_1_6_87_104 (In Russ.)

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the research presented in this publication is to develop and refine methodological and measurement approaches for studying the standard of living in the context of identifying its (un)sustainability. The empirical basis of the study draws on microdata from The Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey – Higher School of Economics (RLMS-HSE), as well as a sample survey of household budgets by Rosstat. A generalized characteristic of the standard of living is proposed from the point of view of assessing its (un)sustainability based on the “normative framework” – criteria-based social standards that specify requirements for purchasing power of per capita monetary income, quality of housing conditions, availability and volume of savings. The classification of households based on compliance with the criterion social standards of identification of a sustainable standard of living is carried out. It was revealed that 0.3% of Russian households with children have a sustainable standard of living, while 2.4% of households without children have a sustainable standard of living. In 65.2% of households with children and 48.5% of households without children, the standard of living is unsustainable, not reaching criterion social standards according to all three criteria applied. The remaining households (34.5% and 49.1%) are in intermediate groups, not meeting one or two criterion social standards. It is shown that a complex, multi-criteria measurement (compared with a single-criterion one) makes it possible to increase the accuracy of estimating the prevalence of unsustainable living standards among households: the proportion of households with unsustainable living standards decreases from 70.0%–96.7% (depending on the criterion) among households with children and 67.4%–87.9% among households without children, to 65.2% and 48.5%, respectively, with a multi-criteria assessment. The proposed approach to studying the standard of living from the perspective of assessing its (un)sustainability is considered from the perspective of other research areas (socio-economic inequality, precarization, social mobility).

KEYWORDS

standard of living; sustainability; unsustainability; criterion social standards; purchasing power; quality of housing conditions; savings; households

INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elena V. Odintsova

PhD in Economics, Leading Research Worker of the Department of Socioeconomic Research of Living Standards and Quality of Life at the Centre of Development of Human Potential, Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

REFERENCES

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2. Kuzina O., Moiseeva D. Is There a Relationship Between Household Saving Behavior, Trust in Financial Institutions and Saving Attitudes in Contemporary Russia? Journal of Economic Sociology. 2024;25(3):51–100. https://doi.org/10.17323/1726-3247-2024-3-51-100 (In Russ.)

3. Bobkov V.N., Odintsova E.V., Kolmakov I.B. Normative-Statistical and Relative Median Approaches to the Study of Population Differentiation by Standard of Living. Vestnik Instituta Ekonomiki Rossiyskoy Akademii Nauk. 2025;(3):84–105. https://doi.org/10.52180/2073-6487_2025_3_84_105 (In Russ.)

4. Odintsova E.V. (ed.), Gulyugina A.A., Grishina E.E., et al. Social and Labour Position of Russian Households with Children (2022–2024): Risks and Opportunities. Scientific Monograph. Izhevsk: Publishing House Shelest; 2025. 228 p. ISBN 978-5-908023-14-6 (In Russ.)

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12. Odintsova E.V. Precarization of Living Conditions of the Population: Approaches to Measurement and Quantitative Assessments. Uroven' zhizni naseleniya regionov Rossii=Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia. 2025;21(2):184–196. https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2025_21_2_1_184_196 (In Russ.)

13. Anikin V.A., Nagernyak M.A., Voronina N.D. The Concept of Well-Being in Social Sciences. Monitoring obshchestvennogo mneniya: ekonomicheskie i sotsial'nye peremeny=Monitoring of Public Opinion: Economic and Social Changes. 2024;(6):319–341. https://doi.org/10.14515/monitoring.2024.6.2800 (In Russ.)

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ECONOMIC RESEARCH

TITLE

Assessment of the Status and Trends of Decent Work in the Republic of Uzbekistan

Dilshadbek N. Nurmatov

000

2.828 MB

Full text

RAR (Research Article Report)

JEL J08

https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2026_22_1_5_74_86

AUTHOR

Dilshadbek N. Nurmatov

Andijan State University named after Z.M. Babur, Andijan, Uzbekistan

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1592-6120

SPIN-code: 5240-3685

ResearcherID: OLP-5682-2025

FOR CITATION

Nurmatov D.N. Assessment of the Status and Trends of Decent Work in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Uroven' Zhizni Naseleniya Regionov Rossii=Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia. 2026;22(1):74–86. https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2026_22_1_5_74_86 (In Russ.)

ABSTRACT

The article examines the current state and development trends of the decent work system in the Republic of Uzbekistan in the context of the digital transformation of the economy. The purpose of the study is to provide a scientifically grounded assessment of the state and trends of decent work in Uzbekistan based on international and national statistical data, identifying achievements, challenges, and directions for further development of labour relations. The methodological framework of the study is based on the principles of R. Anker’s methodology for measuring decent work indicators, the Decent Work Agenda proposed by J. Somavia, and subsequent International Labour Organization (ILO) normative instruments, including the Declaration on Social Justice for a Fair Globalization and the report of the Global Commission on the Future of Work. The empirical base of the research includes official data from UzStat for 2019–2024, the ILOSTAT database, national legal and regulatory acts, and analytical reports of the World Bank. The study conducts a comparative analysis of the dynamics of key decent work indicators, including employment and unemployment rates, women’s participation in the labour market, social protection coverage, and working conditions. The results of the study show that during 2019–2024 the Republic of Uzbekistan demonstrated progress in the institutionalization of labour rights, reflected in the expansion of formal employment, strengthening of regulatory and legal frameworks, and increased participation of workers in social protection systems. At the same time, persistent structural disparities remain, manifested in a high share of informal employment, limited social insurance coverage for the self-employed, and unequal access of different social groups to digital labour market services. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the author’s assessment of the state of decent work in Uzbekistan from the perspective of integrating national and international methodological approaches. The practical significance of the study consists in the possibility of applying the obtained results in the development of employment and social protection strategies within the framework of the National Development Strategy until 2030.

KEYWORDS

decent work, employment, social protection, digitalization, labor market, gender equality, ILO indicators, sustainable development

INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dilshadbek N. Nurmatov

PhD in Economics, Professor, Andijan State University named after Z.M. Babur.

REFERENCES

1. Saragih S., Tjakraatmadjaa J.H., Pratamaa A.P. Decent Work in a Digital Age: A Comprehensive Review of Research and Theory. Cogent Business and Management. 2024;11(1):2371552. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2024.2371552

2. Hughes D., Warhurst C., Duarte M.E. Decent Work, Inclusion and Sustainability: a New Era Lies Ahead. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling. 2021;49(2):145–152. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2021.1898540

3. Anker R., Chernyshev I., Egger P., et al. Measuring Decent Work with Statistical Indicators. International Labour Review. 2003;142(2):147–178. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1564-913X.2003.tb00257.x

4. Marcombe A.-C., Sayfullaev K., Islamova N. Redefining Responsible Consumption and Decent Work: Insights from the Second-hand Industry in Uzbekistan. Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research. 2024;11(3):604–620. https://doi.org/10.15549/jeecar.v11i3.1655

5. Abdurakhmanova G.K., Rustamov D.Zh. Decent Work in The Employment Policy System. In: International Scientific Review of the Problems and Rrospects of Modern Science and Education: LXVIII International Correspondence Scientific and Practical Conference Proceedings; March 23-25, 2020; Boston, USA. Boston: Problems of Science; 2020. P. 25–32. (In Russ.)

6. Proka N.I. Assessment of the Level of Decent Work and its Effectiveness. Vestnik agrarnoi nauki=Bulletin of Agrarian Science. 2023;(2(101)):161–169. https://doi.org/10.17238/issn2587-666X.2023.2.161 (In Russ.)

7. Nurmatov D.N., Nedospasova O.P. Genesis of the Decent Work Concept: From Industrialism to the Digital Era. Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ekonomika=Tomsk State University Journal of Economics. 2025;(72):34–49. https://doi.org/10.17223/19988648/72/6 (In Russ.)

8. Ustinovich E.S. Desyatiletie dostoinogo truda v Rossii. Sotsial'naya politika i sotsial'noe partnerstvo. 2024;(5). https://doi.org/10.33920/pol-01-2405-01 (In Russ.)

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10. Lysenko I.V. Analysis of Trends in the Formation of Decent Work Conditions in the Russian Economy. Upravlenie personalom i intellektual'nymi resursami v Rossii=Management of the Personnel and Intellectual Resource in Russia. 2023;12(4):27–31. https://doi.org/10.12737/2305-7807-2023-12-4-27-31 (In Russ.)

11. Ghai D. Decent Work: Concept and Indicators. International Labour Review. 2003;142(2):113–145. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1564-913X.2003.tb00256.x

12. Nedospasova E.V., Nekhoda O.P., Demidova D.K. How to Ensure Decent Work for New Forms of Employment. Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta=Tomsk State University Journal. 2025;(517):100–116. https://doi.org/10.17223/15617793/517/11 (In Russ.)

13. Nekhoda E.V., Arabov N.U., Bogdanov A.L., et al. Decent Work in Non-Financial Reporting of Russian Companies: Assessing the Quality of Information Disclosure. Upravlenets=The Manager. 2022;13(2):34–56. https://doi.org/10.29141/2218-5003-2022-13-2-3 (In Russ.)

14. Zhao X., Kruglov D.V. Labour Efficiency and Decent Work in China. Ehkonomika truda=Russian Journal of Labor Economics. 2023;10(2):297–306. https://doi.org/10.18334/et.10.2.117292 (In Russ.)

15. Yanchenko E.V. Decent Work in the Context of Digitalisation of the Economy and Society. Ehkonomika truda=Russian Journal of Labor Economics. 2024;11(6):799–818. https://doi.org/10.18334/et.11.6.121197 (In Russ.)

ECONOMIC RESEARCH

TITLE

The Role of the State in Healthcare: A Comparative Study of Social Attitudes of Russians and Residents of Other Countries

Olga A. Kislitsyna

000

2.828 MB

Full text

RAR (Research Article Report)

JEL I18; I38; H51; C25

https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2026_22_1_4_60_73

AUTHOR

Olga A. Kislitsyna

Institute of Economics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia

E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ORCID: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4144-237X

SPIN-code: 7120-4122

ResearcherID: E-3767-2012

Scopus Author ID: 8852460000

FOR CITATION

Kislitsyna O.A. The Role of the State in Healthcare: A Comparative Study of Social Attitudes of Russians and Residents of Other Countries. Uroven' Zhizni Naseleniya Regionov Rossii=Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia. 2026;22(1):60-73. https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2026_22_1_4_60_73 (In Russ.)

ABSTRACT

Against the backdrop of population aging and rising healthcare costs, the question of who should finance healthcare – the government or citizens themselves – is becoming increasingly relevant. Despite extensive research on social policy, healthcare as one of its domains remains relatively underexplored. The aim of the study is to investigate: 1) How do citizens in different countries perceive the government’s role in providing and financing healthcare? 2) Which factors are associated with particular attitudes toward the state’s role in healthcare? A new typology of countries based on the characteristics of health systems is used. An analysis of data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) collected in 2016 reveals overwhelming support for the government’s role in healthcare across all examined countries. Higher levels of support are observed, on the one hand, in Scandinavian countries with universal coverage and public financing, as well as in countries with limited healthcare services and lower system efficiency. Conversely, the lowest levels of support are found in countries where healthcare is predominantly financed through private sources. To identify significant socio-demographic and political-ideological factors influencing attitudes toward the state’s role in healthcare, ordinal logistic regression methods were applied. The analysis demonstrates that self-interest motives have a notable impact on attitudes toward the state’s involvement in healthcare: in many countries, individuals with higher social position are more likely to oppose the expansion of public healthcare spending. Across all examined countries, moral commitment to the public good – adherence to egalitarian values – appears to be a stronger determinant of support for the government’s role in healthcare than individual self-interest.

KEYWORDS

health care, public opinion, public finance, public services, government accountability, comparative research, International Social Survey Programme (ISSP)

INFORMATION ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Olga A. Kislitsyna

Doctor of Economics, Chief Researcher, Center for Economic Theory of the Social Sector, Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

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