Dobrokhleb V.G., Kondakova N.A. (2023). State and trends of family potential in contemporary Russia: Regional aspect. Problems of Territory’s Development, 27 (6), 178–190. DOI: 10.15838 ...

Abstract

The aim of the research is to identify features and trends occurring in family’s demographic structure using our methodology based on the previously developed index of family potential (2017). The index includes indicators characterizing health state, reproduction and reproductive attitudes, marriage and family structure, and housing security. The relevance of the research is conditioned by socio-economic, political and demographic changes taking place in Russia in recent years, which have influenced the development of the institution of family. In the course of calculations, we have proved that half (43) of Russia’s regions has the index of family potential above the national average (78.6 points). At the same time, we have found a significant differentiation between regions with the gap between the maximum and minimum values of the index reaching 19.6 points in 2022. The top-10 regions in terms of the index of family potential include the Republic of Tatarstan and most constitute entities of the Central Federal District (Belgorod, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Kursk oblasts). Regions, which were leaders in the index of family potential ranking, in 2016 have fallen to the bottom. For instance, the most unfavorable situation was in North Caucasian and Far East federal districts in 2022 due to the negative trends of the previous years in marriage and family relations in these territories. The scientific novelty of the research consists in application of our methodology, which allows identifying differences in state of family potential of the country’s regions. It makes it possible to take a differentiated approach to the application of social policy measures, taking into account the state and dynamics of family potential in contemporary Russia’s regions. The aim of the research is to identify features and trends occurring in family’s demographicstructure using our methodology based on the previously developed index of family potential (2017).The index includes indicators characterizing health state, reproduction and reproductive attitudes,marriage and family structure, and housing security. The relevance of the research is conditionedby socio-economic, political and demographic changes taking place in Russia in recent years,which have influenced the development of the institution of family. In the course of calculations, wehave proved that half (43) of Russia’s regions has the index of family potential above the nationalaverage (78.6 points). At the same time, we have found a significant differentiation between regionswith the gap between the maximum and minimum values of the index reaching 19.6 points in 2022.The top-10 regions in terms of the index of family potential include the Republic of Tatarstan andmost constitute entities of the Central Federal District (Belgorod, Voronezh, Lipetsk, Kursk oblasts).Regions, which were leaders in the index of family potential ranking, in 2016 have fallen to thebottom. For instance, the most unfavorable situation was in North Caucasian and Far East federaldistricts in 2022 due to the negative trends of the previous years in marriage and family relationsin these territories. The scientific novelty of the research consists in application of our methodology,which allows identifying differences in state of family potential of the country’s regions. It makes itpossible to take a differentiated approach to the application of social policy measures, taking intoaccount the state and dynamics of family potential in contemporary Russia’s regions.