Single Mothers in Russia
The authors describe trends in single parenthood in Russia, examining factors that affect living arrangements in single-mother families. Before economic reform, single mothers and their children were somewhat protected form poverty by government assistance (income support, subsidized child care, and full employment guarantees). Economic reform in Russia has reduced government transfers, eliminated publicly subsidized pre-school care programs, and worsened women's opportunities in the labor market. The loss of government support has eroded family stability, and left single mothers at increased risk of poverty. Over the last decade, the proportion of households headed by women has increased rapidly, raising the risk of poverty. Single-parent families now represent nearly a quarter of all Russian households. Using seven rounds of data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey, the authors investigate how household living arrangements, and other factors, affect income in single-mother families. They find that a single parent with more earning power, and child benefits is more likely not to live with relatives. But single mothers are increasingly choosing to live with other adults, or relatives, to survive, and to raise their children in times of economic stress, and uncertainty. Half of all single mothers in Russia live with their parents, their adult siblings, or other adult relatives. Help from relatives is important to single-mother families, and that help - including the sharing of domestic and childcare duties - is more efficient, and productive when the single parent lives with the family. The other half live in independent residences, and face increased risk of poverty.
| Summary: | The authors describe trends in single
parenthood in Russia, examining factors that affect living
arrangements in single-mother families. Before economic
reform, single mothers and their children were somewhat
protected form poverty by government assistance (income
support, subsidized child care, and full employment
guarantees). Economic reform in Russia has reduced
government transfers, eliminated publicly subsidized
pre-school care programs, and worsened women's opportunities
in the labor market. The loss of government support has
eroded family stability, and left single mothers at
increased risk of poverty. Over the last decade, the
proportion of households headed by women has increased
rapidly, raising the risk of poverty. Single-parent families
now represent nearly a quarter of all Russian households.
Using seven rounds of data from the Russian Longitudinal
Monitoring Survey, the authors investigate how household
living arrangements, and other factors, affect income in
single-mother families. They find that a single parent with
more earning power, and child benefits is more likely not to
live with relatives. But single mothers are increasingly
choosing to live with other adults, or relatives, to
survive, and to raise their children in times of economic
stress, and uncertainty. Half of all single mothers in
Russia live with their parents, their adult siblings, or
other adult relatives. Help from relatives is important to
single-mother families, and that help - including the
sharing of domestic and childcare duties - is more
efficient, and productive when the single parent lives with
the family. The other half live in independent residences,
and face increased risk of poverty. |
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