Social and economic determinants and potential for growth in life expectancy of the population in the Russian Federation taking into account regional differentiation

Abstract

The article contains results of the research on a correlation between social and economic determinants and life expectancy of the RF population. The research is quite relevant at present as it is consistent with the goals set within the demographic policy in the RF, including searching for efficient tools aimed at solving tasks set in it and achieving its targets. Our research goal was to examine social and economic determinants and potential for a growth in life expectancy of the RF population taking into account regional differentiation. We analyzed world experience in examining effects produced by social and economic factors on life expectancy. Correlation-regression analysis allowed us to detect that economic parameters, lifestyle-related ones, and parameters reflecting education and home comforts were the most significant modifiers (R2=0.06–0.43). We showed that aggregated changes in these parameters equal to 10.0 % could result in 460.5 days increase in life expectancy (1.3 years longer). The greatest contribution was made by population employment/unemployment taking into account their education (115.29 days); home comforts available in housing (86.9 days); economic parameters (74.09 days); psychosocial stress (54.58 days); alcohol drinks sales (49.57 days); basic food products consumption (46.23 days). These data are fully consistent with the already known results obtained by domestic and foreign researchers in the field and efficiently complement them. Our research results indicate that the current social policy that is being implemented in the RF is quite relevant as it is aimed at reducing social and economic inequality and eliminating a social gradient as regards health of various population groups. We are also sure it is necessary to perform further research in the sphere.

Keywords

• life expectancy
• social and economic factors
• social gradient
• demographic policy
• population
• life quality
• morbidity
• mortality
• factor analysis
• cluster analysis