Human Potential of Rural Development in Post-Soviet Russia: Risks and Threats

Zemfira I. Kalugina

Institute of Economics and Industrial Engineering, Department of Sociology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Novosibirsk, Russia.

DOI: 10.4236/me.2014.56065                

Abstract

This article examines the results of market transformation of the agrarian sector in Russia 1990s-2000s, as well as social risks of human development. The author defines social risks as possible negative consequences of social policies that represent a threat to human development. Among them author refers to the lack of resources required for the reproduction of human capital; low public spending on health, education and recreational services not compensated for the lack of individual investments in human capital development; excessive social stratification of society, not conducive to economic growth and social development; low share of the middle class as a support and the driving force of innovation development and social progress; lack of an economic base for the expansion of the middle class. By summarizing, the author concludes that the lack of resources for human development makes illusory hopes for breakthrough innovation in the development of the agro-food complex in rural areas.

Keywords

Rural Development, Agricultural Policy, Market Transformation, Social Risks, Human Development

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Kalugina, Z.I. (2001) Paradoxes of Agrarian Reform in Russia: A Sociological Analysis of Transformation Processes. Novosibirsk, Izd. IEIE SO RAN.
[2]	Manzanova, G. (2011) Traditions and Innovations. Experience Comparative Analysis of Agrarian Communities of Buryatia (Russia), Russia and Other Countries. Ulan-Ude: BSC.
[3]	Nechiporenko, O. (2010) Rural Communities in Changing Russia: Innovation and Tradition. Siberian Scientific Publishing House, Novosibirsk, 302.
[4]	Nefedova, T. (2003) Rural Russia at the Crossroads: Geographical Essays. Moscow, Novoe Izdatelstvo.
[5]	Patsiorkovski, V. (2003) Rural Russia. 1991-2001. Finance and Statistics, Moscow.
[6]	Velikii, P. (2012) Russian Village. The Processes of Post-Soviet Transformation. Saratov, Nauchnaja Kniga.
[7]	Rastyannikov, V.G. and Deryugina, I.V. (2004) Model of Agricultural Growth in the XX Century: India, Japan, USA, Russia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. Moscow: Izd. IVRAN.
[8]	Kalugina, Z. (2007) Institutional Traps in the Agrarian Transformation in Russia. Eastern European Countryside, 13, 69-82.
[9]	Russia in Figures (2003) Stat. Bull., Moscow, Rosstat, 406.
[10]	Priority National Project. Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex. http://www.rost.ru/projects/agriculture/agr6/agr61.shtml
[11]	Uzun, V. (2005) Large and Small Business in Russian Agriculture: Adaptation to Market. Comparative Economic Studies, 47, 85-100. http://dx.doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ces.8100078
[12]	Deryugina, I.V. (2010) The Agricultural Sector in Russia: Cycles and Crises 1998-2009 Period. Problems of Statistics, 3, 67.
[13]	(2009) Russian Statistical Yearbook. Rosstat, Moscow, 412, 418.
[14]	Beck, U. (2000) Risk Society: Towards an Another Modern. Translated from the German Sedelnik, V. and Fedorova, N., Progress-Tradition, Moscow, 21.
[15]	(2012) Russia in Figures. Stat. Bull., Rosstat, Moscow, 257; (1999) Russia in Figures. Stat. Bull., Rosstat, Moscow, 204; (2003) Russia in Figures. Stat. Bull., Rosstat, Moscow, 202; (2004) Russia in Figures. Stat. Bull., Moscow, Rosstat, 208; (2000) Russian Statistical Yearbook. Moscow, Rosstat, 362.
[16]	Giddens, E. (1994) Fate, Risk, Security. Thesis, 107-134.
[17]	Bobkov, V.N., Litvinov, V.A., Gulyugina, A.A. and Zubrilin, Y.V. (2006) Key of Indicators of Incomes and Living Standards in the Federal Districts of Russian Federation in Second Quarter of 2006. Monitoring Dokhodov i Urovnya Zhizni Naseleniya, 29-50.
[18]	Bobkov, V.N. (2008) Difficult Recovery of Russia. Uroven Zhizni Naseleniya Regionov Rossii, 8-18.
[19]	(2012) Income, Expenses and Consumption of Households in the Fourth Quarter of 2012: The Results of Random Analysis of the Budgets of the Households. Moscow, FSGS.
[20]	(2012) Russian Statistical Yearbook. Moscow, FSGS.
[21]	Belyaeva, L.A. (2009) The Living Standard and Quality: Problems of Change and Interpretation. Sotsissledovaniya, 33-42.
[22]	Glaz’ev, S.Y. (2010) Coming Just Three Regular Lost Years (about Forecasting and Budget Parameters 2011-2013). REZh., 8.
[23]	L’vov, D.S. Russia: The Frontiers of Reality and Outlines of the Future. http://www.zavtra.ru/cgi/veil/data/zavtra/06/679/31.html
[24]	Chereshnev, V.A. and Tatarkin, A.I. (2008) Social-Demographic Safety of Russia. Ekaterinburg: IE UrO RAN, 136.
[25]	(2011) Report on Human Development in the Russian Federation. Modernization and Development of Human Potential. M. http://www.undp.ru/documents/nhdr2011rus.pdf
[26]	Nureev, R. and Latov, J. (2013) From “Oriental Despotism” to “Average-Weak Capitalism”: The Ragged Path of Institutional Development of Imperial Russia. Universe of Russia, 3-40.