Today, the government’s leveling policy is not aimed at fighting poverty, not at stimulating development. Its main priority is geopolitics, says Natalya Zubarevich, professor at Moscow State University, director of the regional program of the Independent Institute for Social Policy.
“Let’s see how money is redistributed from the federal treasury. The main priorities of budget transfers: Crimea – 2% of the country’s population and 7% of all budget transfers, the Far East – 6% of the population and 15-16% of transfers, the North Caucasus – 5% of the population and 10% of transfers. Our priorities are not about poverty, not about development, they are about geopolitics. The Far East must be held, Crimea and Sevastopol must become a showcase for developed Russia, we are simply throwing up the North Caucasus, especially Chechnya. The rest – as it goes, “- said Zubarevich.
However, according to the expert, if the state shifts its priority from geopolitics to development, regional inequality will grow. “Strong regions will develop faster. The lagging behind of the weak is a price to pay for the catching-up growth of the entire country, ”she said.
“On the other hand, if we take a course towards social policy and support for poor households, which is correct and reasonable, this will mean an increase in transfers to underdeveloped republics with a high share of shadow incomes. In this case, first of all, we will support Tyva, Dagestan, Chechnya, Ingushetia, where there is practically no tax base in the legal field, where it is impossible to realistically assess the income of the population, but formally they are extremely low, ”Zubarevich noted.
Source: Rosbalt
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