Estimates of the interrelation of the level of socio-economic development and the mortality rate in Russian regions

Abstract

One of the most acute problems of the social development of present-day Russia is a tense demographic situation, one of the reasons for which is the insufficient rate of decline in mortality due to the birth crisis and uneven growth of migration. This study assessed the link of socio-economic factors with mortality by the example of the Pskov region, which is the permanent leader in natural population decline. Based on official statistics, the authors obtained quantitative estimates to characterize the dynamics of mortality using econometric tools. The aim of the study is to identify socio-economic factors that contribute most to the preservation of the dramatic demographic situation in the region. The study conducted an analysis of the relationship of socio-economic factors with mortality in the regions of the Russian Federation using the example of the Pskov region, which is the leader in anti-rating of natural population decline. As a result of the study, quantitative estimates were obtained that characterize the impact of the population lifestyle, age and gender structure on mortality, while controlling the average level of well-being. It is also shown that an increase in the share of the rural population leads to an increase in mortality, which can be explained by the migration of the young population to cities and the increase in the share of elderly people, remoteness from medical institutions and the inaccessibility of qualified medical care. It is estimated how an increase in the level of health development in the region and an improvement in the standard of living of the population contribute to a drop in mortality rates.

Keywords

• mortality
• demographic processes
• socio-economic factors
• health care
• welfare level