Transformation of the Region's Population Life Quality: Indicators, Trends and Paradoxes of Development

Vera P. Samarina, Ekaterina A. Sklyarova, Yana A. Stogova and Darya V. Solopenko
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Vera P. Samarina: Stary Oskol Technological Institute (branch) of the National Research Technological Institute MISIS
Ekaterina A. Sklyarova: Stary Oskol branch of Belgorod State National Research University
Yana A. Stogova: Federal Research Center "Kola Science Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences"
Darya V. Solopenko: Stary Oskol Technological Institute (branch) of the National Research Technological Institute MISIS

Economics. Information Technologies, 2026, vol. 53, issue 1, 18-26

Abstract: In the context of increasing regional differentiation and new socio-economic challenges, the problem of adequately assessing the population's quality of life becomes of paramount importance. The absence of a unified assessment methodology and the complexity of accounting for the multicomponent nature of this category necessitate the search for valid and informative tools. The article proposes an original approach to assessing the quality of life at the regional level. It is based on analyzing the dynamics of a narrow set of resulting indicators that integrate the influence of key factors of socio-economic development and reflect the ultimate effectiveness of regional policy. The novelty of the approach lies in focusing not on a static set of indicators but on identifying contradictions in their dynamics, which makes it possible to diagnose deep-seated problems and "growth points" of the territory. The methodology was tested using data from the Voronezh Region, a leading region in Central Russia whose development strategy until 2035 declares the achievement of a high quality of life. The empirical base covers the period 2013-2024 and relies on official statistics. The results reveal an ambiguous picture: against the backdrop of undeniable progress in the growth of real incomes (a 30 % reduction in the poor population share) and the purchasing power of wages (an increase in the ratio to the food basket from 7.9 to 9 times), a steady trend of depopulation is recorded. The revealed paradox of "economic growth without demographic reproduction" challenges the linear interpretation of the "quality of life" concept and indicates the presence of unaccounted factors that reduce the region's attractiveness for permanent residence. The article has high practical significance, offering a tool for monitoring the effectiveness of social policy and substantiating management decisions aimed at overcoming the identified imbalances.

Keywords: quality of life; regional economy; socio-economic development; resulting indicators; demographic dynamics; poverty level; PURCHASING power; population size; natural growth; wages (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eul:ecoinf:v:53:y:2026:i:1:p:18-26

DOI: 10.52575/2687-0932-2026-53-1-18-26

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