Population Decline Threatens Not Only Russia's Economic Development but Its Social Stability, Demographers Surveyed by 'Nakanune' News Agency Say

Paul Goble

Staunton, Mar. 17 - The Kremlin is concerned about the impact of the declining population of the Russian Federation on the economy and on the ability of society to produce enough young men to serve as soldiers, but it should also be worried about the impact of this on the country's stability, demographers and psychologists tell the Nakanune news agency.

That is because they say the decision of young people to have or not have children is the product not only of economic conditions but also assessments of the future, and many Russians now put off having children or don't have them at all because they have no confidence in where things will be in the future (nakanune.ru/articles/123203/).

Those assessments when they are negative have a negative impact on the attitudes of the population about a wide variety of issues and can lead to social instability and even challenges to the existing order. Consequently, addressing these concerns must involve not just improving the economy but improving how Russians view their society and its future.

The government is not doing much now to change such attitudes largely because it doesn't see this linkage, a psychologist with whom the news agency spoke suggests. But unless it understands this connection and works to address it, Russia will have not just economic problems but issues with social stability.