In a country where millions of Russians languish below the poverty line, in the third month of quarantine and isolation, it appears that the overall population would have adapted to the new coronavirus conditions. Mortality in Russia, even taking into account Kovid-19, is not only not increased but even decreased. Sociologists optimistically trying to find out: how much cash is left in our wallets?
But where did it come from, if two months we stayed at home and had eaten what had been saving for a rainy day?
Recall that in the early period of the pandemic coronavirus, according to the research centre “Perspektiva”, 63.6% of Russians absolutely had no savings, in case of force majeure, to put them in motion. Approximately the same numbers, with a difference of a few tenths of a percent, voiced and other monitoring agencies.
It is a truth that requires no proof. Look around at the neighbors, look, finally, at ourselves: where does the average citizen living on one salary, maybe a stash?
in 2014, when Russia experienced an economic crisis, wages steadily declined, while prices for basic foodstuffs, on the contrary, grew. During this period approximately 2.5 times.
And where the Russians have the funds for a rainy day?!
Even the 36.4 % of respondents frankly admitted that, save in large and small, after all, trying to create for themselves and their children a “safety cushion”. She’s not thin, but not thick: if quarantine measures will be delayed and all of a sudden will lose the monthly income, someone money from this group will last for 2 – 6 months, someone- for a month, no more.
Then it seemed that two months is a very long time that two months of downtime will not sustain any economy. And that will probably happen in about 2-3 weeks we’ll get masks and gloves and, like a lamb, we’ll get back to work. Albeit with the loss of income (caused by the crisis of 2014) and with the increase in food prices.
But we all stayed home these two months. And what happens? 60 % of Russians who honestly confessed that they and three days to survive, after all, hold on!
Well, those 30% who had a “safety cushion”, just exactly it has eaten. And, most likely, from June 1 to come to work because of restrictions in Russia and in Moscow gradually mitigated or removed. And even if they’re right tomorrow will not come to work, then a few more days will suffer.
the question Arises: how experienced is the time most of the Russians?
the Food cards for the poor, the introduction of which was called for by many economists in the country and not imposed.
the Retirement age to 55 and 60 years for pretensioners in the first place lost their jobs, the government is not returned.
And “helicopter money” especially to the needy not issued.
do Not want to mention the terrible word “hunger”, which was predicted by many experts and the ensuing increase in mortality. But even it didn’t happen. Moreover, as recently stated by Tatyana Golikova, the overall mortality rate in Russia from January to April decreased compared to the same period of 2019 19.5 thousand people. Including in April, given Kovid-19, 6.7 thousand.
What does all this mean? Mind Russia not to understand?
– No paradox here – says doctor of economic Sciences, Professor Igor NIKOLAEV. – A year ago, when there was no coronavirus was carried out the same measurements on the accumulation of the Russians. And then the numbers were roughly similar. They are, in my opinion, somewhat overstated, but only slightly. This is the first. And secondly, not all respondents answer honestly, it is easier to say that you do not have any savings.
However, the overall picture does not change. Millions of Russians do nothing, and many barely live from paycheck to paycheck.
But two months of quarantine sitting at home. From their salary?
– the March people got their money. Assuming that the quarantine could be delayed, they have already spent very carefully. Someone was applying for a job, for example, for packing of goods for online delivery. Now this area gets a rapid development. Someone borrowed money at relatives or friends, took in banks credits. The fact that people have successfully lived the last two months, does not mean that they had some “undeclared” money. Everyone got out as best they could. Savings of the population was not there.
– it is Possible to say that the people “on its last legs”?
– No, it is impossible to say. Restrictions gradually weaken, people go to work. Another thing – if we “cover” the new wave of the pandemic? Indeed, a significant reduction in the number of infected Kovalam in Russia is not observed. Here again today – more than 9 thousand. There is a high risk of the recurrence of the pandemic. What if I have to sit in quarantine? That would be truly dangerous for the economy and for the individual. Those reserves of the state, which was in late March, today it is not.
