To Solve Russia’s Low Birth Rate, Population Must Be Relocated from Cities to Rural Areas
Recently, the issue of low birth rates in Russia has become a cause for concern. According to the Federal State Statistics Service, the country’s birth rate has been steadily declining for the past few years, reaching its lowest point in 2019 with only 11.3 births per 1000 people. This is a significant decrease from the average of 12.5 births per 1000 people in the early 2000s. To tackle this problem, Albert Bakhtizin, the director of the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, has proposed a bold solution – relocating the population from cities to rural areas.
In an interview with the «Komsomolskaya Pravda» newspaper published on September 13, Bakhtizin stated that the low birth rate is mainly due to the fact that young people are moving from rural areas to cities in search of better job opportunities and living conditions. As a result, the population in rural areas is aging, and there is a decline in natural population growth. To reverse this trend, Bakhtizin suggests incentivizing people to move back to the countryside by creating better living conditions and job opportunities in rural areas.
One of the main reasons for the low birth rate in cities is the high cost of living. According to the Moscow State University’s Center for Demographic Research, the average cost of raising a child in Moscow is more than 10 times higher than in rural areas. This financial burden makes it challenging for families to have more than one child, and many couples decide to delay starting a family or not have children at all. By relocating to rural areas, families can save on living expenses and have a better chance of providing for their children.
Moreover, the current pandemic has highlighted the importance of living in less densely populated areas. The spread of COVID-19 has been more severe in cities, where people live in close proximity, making it easier for the virus to spread. On the other hand, rural areas offer more space and a lower population density, providing a safer environment for families. This could be an attractive factor for young couples who are planning to start a family.
Another advantage of relocating to rural areas is the potential for a better work-life balance. In cities, the fast-paced lifestyle and long working hours leave little time for family life. In contrast, rural areas offer a slower pace of life, with more time for leisure and family activities. This can be appealing to young couples who want to focus on building a family and raising children.
Furthermore, Bakhtizin suggests that the government should invest in developing rural areas by creating new job opportunities and improving infrastructure. This will not only attract people to move to the countryside but also provide them with better living conditions. With the advancement of technology, remote work has become more accessible, and this could be an option for people who relocate to rural areas. It will also create a more balanced distribution of the population, reducing the pressure on cities’ infrastructure and resources.
However, the relocation process should be carefully planned and executed. The government should provide support for families who decide to move to rural areas, such as financial assistance, housing subsidies, and access to healthcare and education facilities. Additionally, the development of rural areas should not come at the expense of neglecting the cities. The government must continue to invest in improving living conditions in urban areas to maintain a high standard of living for those who choose to stay.
In conclusion, the declining birth rate in Russia is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted solution. Relocating the population from cities to rural areas, as suggested by Albert Bakhtizin, could be a step in the right direction. By providing incentives and creating better living conditions in rural areas, the government can encourage young families to start having children. This will not only increase the country’s birth rate but also promote a more balanced distribution of the population and alleviate the strain on cities’ infrastructure. With careful planning and execution, this solution could potentially reverse the declining birth rate and contribute to the country’s long-term stability and growth.