About 60 % of polled Tatarstaners are satisfied with their life

About 60% of the respondents in Tatarstan who took part in social enquiry for monitoring of living standards and life quality held by the specialists from World Bank are satisfied with their life.

The results were presented to Head of Tatarstan government R.N.Minnikhanov in RT Cabinet by chief economist of World Bank Salman Zaidi. He informed that the work had been accomplished together with RT committee on social and economic monitoring. By and large, 5963 households from 8 economic zones (including 1245 households from Kazan) took part in polling. Such factors as welfare of households (income, expenses), level of citizens’ education, employment, efficiency of state programs’ implementation were assessed first of all.

Salman Zaidi pointed out that today the Republic of Tatarstan is likely the only region which collected and processed data for 2008. He said that the results contain information about life quality in republic comparable with data in Russia, profiles of middle class, poverty and information on efficiency of implemented state social programs.

Less than a year passed since the moment of social enquiry concept development until its presentation, clearly bespeaking their information actuality.

Thus, 59 % of respondents are satisfied with their life. “Specialists from World Bank were not surprised with this fact as far as living standards in Tatarstan are quite high according to many indices”, - Salman Zaidi said. The poverty level is constantly decreasing (2002-19%, 2008-10%). Besides, 58% of people believe that their children will live better. According to data of World Bank those who have higher education and live in Kazan most probably identify themselves with middle class.

State social programs play an important role in Tatarstan. In particular, child benefits, social programs and pensions (as opposed to housing benefits and subsidies).

Health care is a first-priority sphere (37 % of respondents).

RT Prime minister highly appreciated the presented results. He said that information demonstrates dynamics of citizens’ welfare and life quality. “This data will be important for addressing federal bodies of power on issue of efficiency of target programs as state social aide, - Rustam Minnikhanov said, - for Tatarstan is one of the regions where the principles of target social assistance are being implemented”.