Vol 4, No 4 (2024)

Historically, migration is both a cause and a consequence of the processes taking place in the Russian Far East. The objective of this study is to assess changes in migration indicators in the Far East based on the adjustment of statistical data based on the results of the 2020–2021 All-Russian Population Census. The calculations were made using data from the Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System. The period from 1993 to 2023 is considered with a detailed analysis of the period from 2011 to 2023. An assessment of migration processes is given within five-year periods at the regional level. The period from 2011 to 2021 is considered based on data before and after the change in data, considering the results of the 2020–2021 All-Russian Population Census. It is shown that the change in data based on the census affected both the total population of the Far East and the values of migration rates. In the regional context, a higher migration intensity is typical for the northern regions. The maximum difference in absolute indicators was recorded in the Zabaikalsky Krai, the minimum– in the Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. When considering relative indicators, the leading position is held by the Kamchatka Krai. It is shown that the adjustment of data considering the results of the 2020 All-Russian Population Census "accelerated" the aging of the population in the Far East. Two groups were identified among the regions. One of them is characterized by a decrease, and the other by an increase in the average age of the population. The study showed that the adjusted data based on the results of the population census differ by region in the Far East and are characterized by positive and negative values.

The article is devoted to the study of the socio-demographic situation in the regions of the Baikal region at the municipal level. The purpose of the study is to evaluate possible methodological approaches for studying the socio–demographic situation in the regions of Russia, to analyze the socio-demographic situation in the regions under consideration. The paper reviewed the experience of studying the socio-demographic situation at the regional and municipal levels, analyzed approaches to the term and presented the author’s definition. The most important task of the study was to assess the feasibility of using such an integrated approach in the study of regions. The work used data from the Federal State Statistics Service at the municipal level. To calculate the index of the socio-demographic situation, indicators of the population and the level of development of the social sphere were selected. The calculation of the complex indicator of the socio-demographic situation was carried out for each municipality in the period from 2013 to 2022. A comparative analysis of the territories allowed us to identify several groups according to this indicator. The use of the cartographic method to display the results of the study made it possible to assess the dependence of the socio-demographic situation on the geographical location – climatic conditions, the degree of development of transport infrastructure. The methodology adopted in the work gives a certain idea of the socio-demographic situation, but it also has several disadvantages. In general, it seems promising to refine such an indicator, since there is a direct dependence of demographic development on the level of development of the social sphere. Of particular interest in this regard will be the development of a multifactorial index. Thus, the economic and geographical location of the territories also has an impact on social development. In addition, the use of statistical data alone does not allow for a full assessment of the situation on the ground. In this case, it is possible to use the data of sociological research.

Health status is one of the important factors influencing the implementation of reproductive intentions, the ability to have the desired number of children. Along with medical statistics, an important source of information in this case is people's self-assessment of their health. Questions aimed at clarifying this self-assessment are contained in the results of sociological studies. The research results presented in the article are based on data from the Federal State Statistics Service and the socio-demographic survey “Sample observation of reproductive plans of the population” conducted by Rosstat in 2022. Self-assessments of women and men regarding their health status are analyzed from the point of view of its perception as an obstacle to having the desired number of children and the reason for postponing the birth of a child. Particular attention is paid to issues of reproductive health and attitudes towards modern reproductive technologies among those who cannot have a child. Another aspect considered in the article is the prevalence of abortions, which sometimes result in the impossibility of having a child in the future. It is also important to keep in mind that the problem of health as a factor in the implementation of reproductive intentions is becoming more relevant in connection with later childbearing.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the results of an empirical study of family values of citizens of the Eurasian Economic Union. The novelty of the study lies in the study of value orientations in the territory that is currently connected by economic relations. The relevance of this topic is also related to the fact that the EAEU is a young, actively developing union. Over the past three decades, a new generation of people of reproductive age has grown up in the countries of the Union, whose family attitudes require comparative study. Thus, because of migration processes in the Eurasian space, interethnic marriages occur, which can be complicated by differences in the family ideals of the spouses. The study of these attitudes will increase the level of mutual understanding regarding family building both at the level of management for implementing measures to support families, and among ordinary citizens who are planning a family. The study describes the population’s perceptions of various aspects of family life. Also, countries were divided into groups based on the similarity of family attitudes and placed on the scale in a sequence from more traditional to secular family attitudes. The results obtained can be used to develop measures to support families, youth, and demographic policies of the governments of the EAEU countries, as they allow us to assess the orientation of the population of reproductive age in the framework of family planning. The presented results provide an understanding of the place of the family in the system of values of the population of each EAEU member state. These conclusions will be useful for scientists of the Eurasian Economic Union countries involved in the sociology of the family, the sociology of morals, and demography.

The subject of the study is the permanent population of those regions of European Russia where stable natural decline (depopulation) took place in general for 1992–2024. The topic of the study is the absolute and relative scale of depopulation, the ratio of its main components (fertility and mortality), as well as the most significant demographic factors of this negative process; First, this is the migration component (migration external to the regions), compensating or aggravating the demographic development of these territories. The purpose of the study is to identify among the regions of European Russia that have experienced depopulation in general over 33 post-Soviet years, groups that are typical in terms of the most significant characteristics, to reveal the main factors affecting the level of depopulation and the nature of demographic development in them. Research methods are demographic statistical analysis, the use of relative demographic indicators for correct inter-territorial comparison. The source of all data for calculations is Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat). Results of the study: three typical groups of regions of European Russia are identified according to the scale and nature of depopulation and the role of migration processes in them. The first group is the regions with the maximum level of depopulation coefficient, which suffered largely during the Great Patriotic War and/or subsequent migration processes. The second group is the socio-economically successful territories of the European part of Russia, which have a moderate depopulation coefficient and largely compensate for the natural decline with migration growth, primarily from other regions of Russia. The third group is regions that have a moderate level of depopulation, despite the migration loss from them. First, these are the regions of the European Far North and the northern Cis-Urals. Scientific contribution includes a methodology for correct territorial comparison of Russian regions according to the scale and nature of depopulation in them has been supplemented and applied. Conclusions: The European and Asian parts of Russia are developing demographically disproportionately. Throughout the post-Soviet period, the European part has been “fed” by the population through migration at the expense of the Asian part. The problems facing us require the opposite. This vector can be reversed through the efforts of the state and considering the economic market economy. The scope of application of the results is to provide social services and monitoring for those interested in the demographic problem of Russian regions.

Determining the exact population size of Donbass is a complex task due to the ongoing armed conflict in the region and a significant time interval that has passed since the last All-Ukrainian Population Census conducted in 2001. As of 2024, relevant and reliable sources of information on the demographic situation in Donbass are extremely limited. In turn, the statistical bodies of the people's republics are limited to counting the population exclusively in the territories controlled by Russia. These circumstances necessitate the use of alternative methodological approaches to obtain reliable estimates of the population of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. The article considers the demographic dynamics and problems of estimating the permanent population of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic (hereinafter referred to as the DPR and LPR), which are part of the Russian Federation. The relevance of the topic is due to the lack of reliable statistical data and the complexity of population accounting in the context of the ongoing conflict in the republics. The objective of the study is to analyze the available data on the population of the DPR and LPR and to assess the demographic situation in the region. The work uses official data from the statistical services of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, as well as materials from foreign statistical organizations. The results of the study show that since the beginning of the conflict in 2014, the population of the DPR and LPR has significantly decreased due to migration outflow and increased mortality. According to the authors' estimates, at the beginning of 2023, the permanent population of the Donetsk People's Republic was about 4.2 million people, and that of the Luhansk People's Republic was 2.2 million people. In addition, the article shows the population dynamics of the DPR and LPR from 1939 to 2020 based on all-Union population censuses and modern current accounting data. This scientific work emphasizes the need to conduct full-scale population censuses in the republics to obtain accurate information on its size and structure. The problem to which the article is devoted is not only of academic interest, but also has an obvious practical component. The study of the most probable number of the actual population of modern Donbass is directly related to the assessment of its systemic potential and the ability of two regional societies to achieve sustainable socio-economic development.

In recent years, the Russian labor market has been in an extremely tense state, close to “overheating,” which poses risks for the economic development of the country. The most dynamically changing components of the market are the demand for labor and its supply. In the context of population decline, migration remains a flexible and effective mechanism for replenishing the labor force. Differences in the demographic and socio-economic situation in the Russian Federation and neighboring countries, primarily Central Asian ones, create preconditions for cross-border population movements, while the differentiation of various indicators of Russian regions becomes a factor in intra-country migration. In this study, the authors set the task of assessing the extent to which the situation in regional labor markets can influence the intensity of both international and interregional migration flows in Russia, ensuring their self-regulation and balancing. For this purpose, we constructed a clustering of the subjects of the Russian Federation based on the main indicators of labor supply and demand, as well as the intensity of labor migration flows in various directions. Then a correlation analysis of the selected indicators was carried out. The results show that, in general, labor migration smooths out imbalances in regional markets, but the effect of self-regulation mechanisms is far from perfect. For example, there is no linear relationship between tension in the labor market and the intensity of arrival of labor migrants. Based on the findings, the authors conclude by making recommendations regarding the need to create and improve federal mechanisms to ensure contact between employers and job seekers from different regions and to stimulate labor mobility of their populations.

The purpose of the study is to identify trends in modern migration from Afghanistan to Tajikistan. The study included a content analysis of scientific papers by Tajik, Russian and foreign scientists.Analytical reports and annual reports of international organizations and the Republic of Tajikistan were analyzed, and the results of observations conducted by the author were used. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to solve the following tasks: to identify the current trends in Afghan migration. The scientific significance of the study lies in the analysis of international migration from Afghanistan to Tajikistan and its impact on the socio-economic development of both countries, especially the border areas. The practical significance of the study lies in the fact that the obtained research results can be used in the future as a basis for analytical and project activities in developing a strategy for Tajik-Afghan cooperation, in particular in the field of population migration. The analysis of the problem under study showed that there are all the prerequisites for migration of the population of Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Commercial migration plays a significant role in the life of the population of the border areas of both countries. It was revealed that for many households, border markets occupy a key place for earning money and improving their well-being. Afghan refugees generally successfully adapt to Tajik society, however, due to the limited number of jobs in the labor market, like many citizens of Tajikistan, refugees face problems finding work and permanent employment. In view of the recent political events in Afghanistan, there is a limitation of migration data for research.

Educational migration has become an integral part of the development of higher education systems in large countries and a way to solve several social, economic, and demographic problems. The article analyzes the approaches of a few states to the regulation of outbound educational migration, i.e. aimed at preserving human capital within the country, or an attempt to attract students studying abroad to scientific, social, cultural, or economic projects implemented by the country. The article identifies three groups of tools used in the state policy of educational migration management: retention, return and involvement. Examples of countries implementing certain programs belonging to these three groups are given. The paper analyzes the shortcomings of domestic methods of managing the flows of educational migrants and makes recommendations that could be considered when adjusting national policy in this area, allowing expanding the target audience of measures already being implemented, as well as allowing Russia to use the potential of students abroad of domestic students within the framework of “brain circulation”.

The authors devote this review to understanding the key provisions and conclusions obtained by T.K.Rostovskaya, E.B.Bedrina and O.A.Zolotareva in a new collective monograph entitled “Development of Demographic Education in Russia and Abroad”, published in the winter of 2024. The release of this academic work was timed to coincide with the 300th anniversary of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which was celebrated in Russia on February 8, 2024. This work is based on a wide array of various regulatory documents, in particular the International Labor Organization and the Ministry of Labor of Russia, related to the regulation of demographic processes. The work includes a variety of specialized foreign and domestic scientific relevant literature. The authors of the collective monograph note that at the end of perestroika in the USSR, demographic education experiences a real upsurge, which is manifested, first, in the popularity and status of the profession taught at Lomonosov Moscow State University and MESI. Then this is associated with the publication of a significant number of important demographic theoretical, methodological, and practical scientific works, which subsequently begin to acquire significance not only among purely specialist demographers, but also other specialists such as historians, sociologists, and economists. The authors of the collective monograph carefully and step by step describe the importance of the professional standard “Demographer”. It was established that at the present time, alas, in Russia there is a certain “personnel shortage” in demographer specialists. But despite this, the authors also note a positive feature, which concerns the broad opportunities of demographers in the Russian labor market (economist-demographer, leading economist-demographer, consultant, and specialist in demographic expertise, etc.) and, therefore, the further development of their potential. In the process of a comprehensive study, the authors of this collective monograph noted the importance of preserving scientific traditions in training personnel with competencies in the field of demography on a stable and comprehensive basis. In the peer-reviewed collective monograph, for example, the analysis of historical aspects concerning the development of demographic education in foreign countries such as Great Britain, Germany, the USA, Finland, France, and the Czech Republic can undoubtedly be of great interest to the readership (especially to demographers and sociologists). The milestones of demographic education in our country also received due coverage. But the most interesting are the latest transformational trends in the domestic education system, where a significant role was played by the Institute of Demographic Research (IDR) of the Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, which since 2022–2023 has been actively involved in the development of the draft Federal State Educational Standard of Higher Education in the specialty “Demography”, the results of which have yet to be deeply and fully comprehended by the scientific community and appropriate adjustments made. According to the authors of the monograph, now it is undoubted that demographic knowledge is a key part of Russian science and education. In conclusion, the reviewers briefly summarize the conclusions and note new possible paths (directions) in the development of this topic.