Well-being as a measure of the sufficiency of benefits for the population (A regional aspect)

Abstract

The state socioeconomic policy aimed at increasing the well-being of the population should be based on a scientific foundation and reasonable estimates. The article deals with topical issues of assessment and interregional comparisons of the level of population well-being. The study includes a review of scientific research on population well-being. The concept of the population well-being is defined as a measure of population's sufficient provision with material, social and spiritual benefits. A methodological approach to assessing the level of the population well-being in regions is proposed, indicators of living standards in different regions are compared. Calculations of the integral well-being index for the subjects of the Russian Federation are presented. The regions of the Ural Federal District were ranked according to the criteria of the Gini index. The analysis of the obtained results showed a significant differentiation of regions by the level of well-being, which indicates the socioeconomic polarization of the population living in different regions of the Ural Federal District. The findings adequately reflect the real situation in terms of well-being in the regions of the Ural Federal District and can be useful in developing measures of regional social policy and assessing its effectiveness.