Russia’s Public PolicyBy: Eric Lin

OutlineWelfare State

Pension WelfareEducation PolicyPoverty Issues

Civil Liberties, Rights, and FreedomsEnvironment PolicyManagement of Natural ResourcesPopulation and Migration Policies

Population StructurePopulation Change

Gender and Ethnicity PoliciesForeign PolicyEconomic Policy and Performance

Welfare StatePension WelfareThree component system comprised of basic

pension (30%), insurance benefit (60%) and allowances (10%)

After 2010, the basic pillar has been folded into the pay-as-you-go portion of pensions

Early statutory age-60 for men & 55 for women

Pensions/Allowances-9% of GDPPutin named pension-saving policy the BIGGEST social problem facing modern Russia

Welfare State (cont.)Education PolicyMinistry of Education and Science

regulates Russia EducationLaw on Education (1992)-autonomy for

local authorities and more objective school curriculum

Education Spending-4.9% of GDPMore emphasis on broad fields of study, rather than the USA system of discrete courses

Welfare State (cont.)Poverty IssuesWorking poor is largest group-66% of poor

live in households where at least one adult is employed

Early 1994-system of family allowances was simplified into a single benefit, available to all children

1994-1995-regional program of social protection was adopted-people below minimum income are priority

Stabilization and renewed economic growth are critical for poverty reduction in Russia

Civil Liberties, Rights, and FreedomsIn theory, Constitution of Russian Federation

guarantees freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association and assembly, freedom to choose language, to vote, for education, etc.

Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations (1997)-restricted new religious groups in registering as religious organizations

January 31, 2010-Russian government’s refusal to grant permission for a peaceful protest in support of freedom in Moscow-violation of Constitution!

Russia is ranked “Not Free” in Freedom in the World 2013

Environmental PolicyLarge percentage of Russia’s urban

population is faced with “high” and even “very high” pollution and about 100 million hectares are threatened by desertification

In 2010, Medvedev called for an “improved, consolidated environmental policy”.

Medvedev pointed out that Putin’s laws were isolated and sometimes contradictory-emphasized coherence

Liability for violations of environmental legislation were increased and punishment became inevitable

Management of Natural ResourcesDependence on oil exportation-boon or burden?2000-Putin's helped stabilize the country by

consolidating the energy sector under state control

The government effectively nationalized the majority of the energy sector under three state behemoths: Gazprom, Rosneft and Transneft.

A more rational public opinion of country's natural resources is necessary for promoting private initiative and opening the natural resources industry to international investors

Population and Migration PolicySecond largest immigration country after U.S.In 1992, the Federal Migration Service (FMS) was

created in response to the mass movements of people following the collapse of the Soviet Union

In 1993, the laws “On Refugees” and “On Forced Migrants” were adopted

Other changes starting 2006- centralized database for the registration of foreign citizens, cooperating with the European Union in the field of migration

Low population growth: +0.4%Current population: 8.67 people/sq. km

Population Structure

Population Changes

Gender PoliciesGender Gap - From 1996–1999, only 7.2% of

Russia's Federal Assembly were women; only one woman was present in the upper chamber, the Federation Council

Gender equality is not identified as a policy issue at the governmental level; most women worked in low income cultural and educational sectors

The Russian Family Code- shared parental authority; mothers and fathers have equal rights/responsibilities

The Gender Inequality Index is 0.338(59th)

Ethnicity PoliciesBoris Yeltsin-pragmatic encouragement of self-rule

for the leaders of the ethnic republics (ethnic laissez faire)

Conception of the State National Policy of the Russian Federation(1996)-ambiguity of all-powerful unitary state and autonomous ethnic republics

Putin made little progress to clear up the ambiguities in Russian ethnic policy

Putin even tried to restructure state institutions to limit any possibility for using ethnicity to challenge his own political power

Foreign PolicyAdopted multidirectional balanced external

strategy.Not only to satisfy Russia’s own ambitions, but also

to guarantee world peace and security.2000-2004-Completely eradicated intervention of

the international terrorism to return Chechnya to the Russian constitutional legal field

2005-2008-Defending Russian sovereignty2006- Russia presided in the G8 throughout the

year2012-became a member of WTO

Transition from command economy to partial free-market system

Macroeconomic revolution-became one of the largest creditors of U.S. debt in the world.

Tax reform-13% low flat tax rate to encourage hard work.1999-2008-Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) was 2.3 to 3

times higher than that of the USA and EU nations.  The 2008-2009 economic crisis-GDP decreased

considerably plummeted by 7.8%.The economic situation in 2010-2013 - Restoring the

dynamics of development with gradual GDP increaseHugely rely on the oil and gas resources

Economic Policy

Thank You!

AcknowledgementMr. Swaney