Uncategorised Hits: 14

DEMOGRAPHIC RESEARCH

TITLE

Economic Situation of Large Families in Moscow and Moscow Region: a Sociological Study

Elena V. Zemlyanova, Natalia A. Bezverbnaya, Elena K. Zhuravleva

Размер файла000
 Размер файла  2.828 MB Размер файла Full text

INDEX

RAR (Research Article Report)

JEL J11

https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2025_21_2_4_223_232

AUTHORS

Elena V. Zemlyanova

Institute for Demographic Research - Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology 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.

OCRID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6231-1611

SPIN-code: 3444–9754

RSCI AuthorID: 167570

ReseacherID: AAA-4170-2021

Natalia A. Bezverbnaya

Independent Researcher

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

OCRID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6617-8723

SPIN-code: 6590–8965

RSCI AuthorID: 926075

ReseacherID: AAT-5201-2020

Elena K. Zhuravleva

National Parents Association, Moscow, Russia

Institute of Socio-Economic Studies of Population named after N.M. Rimashevskaya - Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology 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.

OCRID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5525-0459

SPIN-code: 5567-2429

RSCI AuthorID: 880103

FOR CITATION

Zemlyanova E.V., Bezverbnaya N.A., Zhuravleva E.K. Economic Situation of Large Families in Moscow and Moscow Region: a Sociological Study. Uroven' Zhizni Naseleniya Regionov Rossii=Living Standards of the Population in the Regions of Russia. 2025;21(2):223–232. https://doi.org/10.52180/1999-9836_2025_21_2_4_223_232 (In Russ.)

Abstract

The article presents the results of a sociological study conducted in 2024 among large families in Moscow and Moscow region. The sample amounted to 253 respondents. The purpose of the study is to examine the economic situation of large families, their reproductive plans and factors influencing the decision to have children. The research material consisted of 253 questionnaires filled out by parents with many children who had at least one minor child under the age of 18 in their family at the time of the survey. The respondents' responses statistically processed for analysis. A content analysis of national and foreign publications on the research topic also conducted. Out of more than 50 publications, 15 of the most relevant to the subject of the study selected. The data analysis showed that the majority of respondents have three children, and the desired number of children in the family, given the necessary conditions, is five. However, the real plans of most families are limited to three children. The main obstacles to having more children are economic factors such as material difficulties, high credit burden, housing problems and uncertainty about the future. The survey also showed that additional measures of state support for families with children had little impact on respondents' decision to have a younger child. More than half of the respondents do not plan to have more children, and the birth of a younger child did not contribute to improving the family's standard of living, solving housing problems or receiving significant material assistance from the state. The results of the study emphasize the need to develop and implement effective measures of state support for large families aimed at improving their economic situation and creating favorable conditions for the implementation of reproductive plans (such as targeted social payments, housing and education benefits). Also authors believe that it’s important to overcome stereotypes in society and the media related to the material well-being of large families in Russia.).

Keywords

large families, economic situation, average number of children, reproductive plans, measures of state support, sociological research, Moscow and the Moscow region

AUTHOR'S BIOGRAFY

Elena V. Zemlyanova

PhD in Economics, Leading Researcher, Institute for Demographic Research - Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Natalia A. Bezverbnaya

PhD in Sociology, Independent Researcher

Elena K. Zhuravleva

Expert, National Parents Association; Junior Researcher, Institute of Socio-Economic Studies of Population named after N.M. Rimashevskaya - Branch of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences

References

  1. Surinov A.E, Luppov A.B. Income Inequality in Russia. Measurement Based on Equivalent Income. Ehkonomicheskii zhurnal VSHEH=HSE Economic Journal. 2020;24(4):539-571. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17323/1813-8691-2020-24-4-539-571 (In Russ.)
  2. Surinov A.Ye., Kuzin S.S. Having Children and the Well-Being of Young Families: How are They Related? Ehkonomicheskaya politika=Economic Policy. 2023;18(6):34-61. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.18288/1994-5124-2023-6-34-61 (In Russ.)
  3. Kapoguzov E.A., Chupin R.I. Effectiveness of Family Policy in Russia: Evidence-Based Approach. Terra Economicus. 2021;19(3):20–36. https://doi.org/10.18522/2073- 6606-2021-19-3-20-36 (In Russ.)
  4. Kapoguzov E.A., Chupin R.I., Kharlamova M.S. Assessment of Family Policy Achievements in Income Increase and Poverty Decrease in Russia. Voprosy upravleniya=Management Issues. 2021;(4(71)):108–122. https://doi.org/10.22394/2304-3369-2021-4-108-122 (In Russ.)
  5. Razumov A.A., Selivanova O.V. The Impact of Child Benefits and Compensation Payments on Poverty Reduction in the Regions of Russia. Sotsial'no-trudovye issledovaniya=Social and Labor Research. 2023;50(1):83-93. https://doi.org/10.34022/2658-3712-2022-50-1-83-93. (In Russ.)
  6. Bradshaw J., Finch N., Mayhew E, et al. Child Poverty in Large Families. UK: Joseph Rowntree Foundation; 2006. 49 p. ISBN 1-86134-877-0
  7. Solari C.D., Mare R.D. Housing Crowding Effects on Children's Wellbeing. Social Science Research. 2012;41(2):464-476. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssresearch.2011.09.012
  8. Wilcox W.B., Lerman R.I., Price J. Strong Families, Prosperous States: Do Healthy Families Affect the Wealth of States? USA: American Enterprise Institute; 2015. 52 p.
  9. Kearney M.S., Levine P.B. The Economics of Non-Marital Childbearing and the «Marriage Premium for Children». Annual Review of Economics. 2017;9:327-352. https://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev-economics-063016-103749
  10. Kohler H.P., Skytthe A., Christensen K. The Demography of Low Fertility and the Family. Annual Review of Sociology. 2019;(45):271-288.
  11. McLanahan S., Percheski C. Family Structure and Reproduction of Inequalities. Annual Review of Sociology. 2008;34:257-276. https://dx.doi.org/10.1146/annurev.soc.34.040507.134549
  12. Bradshaw J., Chzhen Y., Main G. Poverty and Social Exclusion in Europe. UK: Edward Elgar Publishing; 320 p. ISBN 978-1-84376-340-6
  13. Smeeding T.M., Thévenot C. Addressing Child Poverty: How Does the United States Compare with Other Nations? Academic Pediatrics. 2016;16(3):67-75. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2016.01.011
  14. Arhangel'skij, V.N. Faktory Rozhdaemosti. Moscow: TEIS; 2006. 399 p. (In Russ.)
  15. Finlay J.E., Mejía-Guevara I., Akachi Y. Inequality in Total Fertility Rates and the Proximate Determinants of Fertility in 21 sub-Saharan African Countries. PLoS ONE. 2018;13(9):e0203344. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0203344
  16. Ovcharova L.N., Popova D.O., Rudberg A.M. Decomposition of Income Inequality in Contemporary Russia. Zhurnal Novoi ehkonomicheskoi assotsiatsii=Journal of the New Economic Association. 2016;(3(31)):170–186. https://dx.doi.org/10.31737/2221-2264-2016-31-3-8 (In Russ.)
  17. Sadykov R.M., Bolshakova N.L. Key Social Determinants of the Russian Large Family. Vestnik Universiteta. 2024;(11):216–223. https://dx.doi.org/10.26425/1816-4277-2024-11-216-223 (In Russ.)
  18. Rostovskaya T.K., Kuchmaeva, O.V., Vasileva, E.N. Large Family in the Modern Russian Society: Demographic Aspect. Voprosy upravleniya=Management Issues. 2024;18(3):9–23. https://doi.org/10.22394/2304-3369-2024-3-9-23 (In Russ.)
  19. Thevenon O., Manfredi T., Govind Ya. Child Poverty in the OECD: Trends, Determinants and Policies to Tackle it. OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers. Paris: OECD Publishing; 2018 Oct. 18. 80 p. http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/c69de229-en
  20. Bengtson V.L., Settersten R A. Longitudinal Study of Generations: Tracking Family Dynamics Over Time. UK: Routledge; 2002.