Challenges and policy responses
States are challenged by external forces and domestic circumstances. The BBC reports on a situation that will require some action in Russia. What will the policy responses be to men's health, social, and economic problems?Russia tackles mortality 'crisis'
"The Russian government is discussing how to tackle the problem of falling life expectancy, especially among men...
"The health ministry says average life expectancy for Russian men is less than 60 years - about 15 years lower than in most other industrialised countries.
"Life expectancy for Russian women is about 72.
"Diseases, murders, suicides and intravenous drug abuse - the rates of which in Russia are also among the highest in the world - have contributed to what many experts consider to be a health catastrophe...
"The demographic crisis is an extremely sensitive matter politically... much of Russia's health crisis is the result of unhealthy life-styles, especially very high rates of smoking and alcohol abuse.
"Yet there is still no concerted effort to persuade, or force, people to adopt healthier ways, our analyst adds.
"There are also environmental issues - last year, a survey by an American research centre said that half of the world's most polluted places were in the former Soviet Union."
See also the RAND Corporation Policy Brief, Dire Demographic Trends Cast a Shadow on Russia's Future
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Labels: demographics, policy, Russia
posted by Ken Wedding @ 6:04 AM
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The New York Times reported on one policy response to the demographic crisis.
Russia: Fight Against Diseases That Drive Population Plunge
"The government approved a five-year, $2.9 billion program to decrease mortality from diseases that contribute to Russia's plunging population, including diabetes, tuberculosis, AIDS, and cancer.
"At the same time, the state statistics agency said Russia’s population dropped by more than 560,000 last year, to 142.2 million, a new post-Soviet low.
"President Vladimir V. Putin has singled out the declining population as a serious hindrance to prosperity.
"Deaths continue to outnumber births, and life expectancy remains short, particularly for men.
"The Itar-Tass news agency said male life expectancy in 2005 was 58.9 years. Female life expectancy was 72.3 years."
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