Demographic crisis and human development of the Russian Federation in Vladimir Putin regime

Abstract

The objectives of this qualitative research consist of 1) to understand the demographic conditions and human developments in the Soviet Union period 2) to understand the demographic situations and human developments in the period of transition to Post-Communist Russia 3) to examine the causes of the decline of the population growth rate in the Russian Federation, and 4) to analyze the implications of the demographic situation and human development in Russia This research found that only some theories can be used to clarify some parts of the demographic transition, while others are not compatible with it, especially the demographic situation in the Russian Federation. The interventions of them are WWII, the great famine in 1933, policies and the alternation of political and economic structure. The causes of the demographic crisis have been present since the Soviet era. The main causes ranged from both population characteristics as well as the political and economic environments to be specific factors such as alcohol consumption behavior, policies implemented by the government and the transformation of the political and economic structures from the Soviet era to the Russian Federation. Human development in Soviet era was terrible with miserable and long working hour, crowded habitation, and substandard healthcare service. The conditions also changed as the leader changed. Surprisingly, human development in the early transition was getting even worse. However, with the policies implemented by the government and the adaptation of population aided both human development and demographic crisis, especially, educational reform, healthcare reform, and housing policies under Putin’s presidency and premiership, even if the results did not meet the entire objectives intended in the first place. Moreover, this research discovers that human development and demographic development are related to each other.