The Social Triplet Demography-Employment-Income in Altai Villages

Abstract

Based on the data of state statistics and sociological surveys, the paper identifies the features of dynamics, structural changes and interrelation of the three key social components of sustainable development of rural areas (rural social triple) in Altai Krai: the demographic sphere, employment and income. The challenges and imbalances in the rural social threesome development are revealed. It is proved that processes of depopulation and ageing of the rural population are happening more intensively than in Russia with deteriorating health and increasing disproportions of resettlement in the region. The decline in rural employment, the falling interest of young people to rural work is combined with increased activity in new areas of its application, the primitivization of labor – with the advent of its new high-tech types, the reduction of unemployment – with increasing acuteness of its perception by the population. Against the background of significant reduction in poverty, the proportion of the extremely poor has increased over the past decade, and the dependence of rural residents on social transfers increases. Migration is growing in its various forms as a response of rural residents to challenges. However, the state policy is trying to produce an impact on the rural social triple by providing support to the birth rate and employment.