RUSSIAN-SWEDEN RELATIONS
Russian-Swedish relations (contacts between the two countries date back more than twelve centuries) have a complicated history, marked by repeated wars in the past centuries, “spy scandals” and periods of peaceful good neighborliness. Sweden was the first in the West to establish trade relations with Soviet Russia - six months after the October Revolution (diplomatic relations with the USSR were established on March 16, 1924), and also one of the first - on December 19, 1991, it recognized the Russian Federation as a sovereign state.
The state visit to Sweden of the President of Russia () took place on December 2-4, 1997, and to Russia of the King of Sweden Carl XVI Gustaf - in October 2001.
There is a solid contractual and legal basis for bilateral relations (about 50 interstate and intergovernmental agreements are in force). Thirteen bilateral documents have been signed over the past three years. The most important of them are the Declaration on Partnership for Modernization between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Sweden, intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in maritime and aviation search and rescue in the Baltic Sea, on cooperation in the field of exploration and use of outer space for peaceful purposes, in the field of health and social provision, in the field of culture and art, on the Swedish military transit through the territory of Russia to Afghanistan.
Practical contacts are regularly maintained between departments.
In 2011, the Swedish Ministers of Foreign Affairs K. Bildt, Justice B. Ask, Trade E. Björling, Social Affairs J. Hagglund, Director General of the State Administration of the Judiciary B. Turblad and others visited Russia. Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Ivanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications (visited Sweden also in December 2012), Chairman of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation Stepashin, Head of the Federal Service for State Registration, Cadastre and Cartography, Head of the FSB Border Service Pronichev, Director of the Pushkin Reserve, General Director of Tretyakovskaya galleries, etc.
Inter-parliamentary ties are developing. In the years Stockholm was visited by Chairman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Mironov, Chairman of the Committee on the Problems of the North and Far Pivnenko, Chairman of the Commission of the Federation Council on National Policy, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Economic Policy and Entrepreneurship, Deputy. Chairman of the Committee on Local Self-Government, etc. In June 2011, a delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Riksdag headed by Chairman K. Enström came to Moscow.
Relations in the field of science, culture, art and sports are developing positively. Sweden regularly hosts tours of the Mariinsky Theater and the KinoRurik Russian film festival. It has become a good tradition to hold Russian Seasons in Sweden, with a series of concerts by prominent Russian classical music performers and exhibitions. In September 2011 - March with. in the National Museum of Stockholm, with great success, an exhibition of works by Russian artists-Wanderers, which was visited by more than 100 thousand people. In January s. In the presence of the ministers of culture of the two countries, the Russian Spring music festival was launched in Sweden.
According to some estimates, about 18,000 Russian compatriots live in Sweden (of which 4,500 are registered with our consular offices). Since 2003, the all-Swedish "umbrella" organization, the Union of Russian Societies in Sweden, has been operating. The Russian Orthodox Church is represented by parishes in Stockholm (Sergievsky), Gothenburg, Uppsala, Luleå, Karlstad, Västerås and Umeå.
Our countries also successfully interact in various formats of international cooperation in the North of Europe - the Council of the Baltic Sea States, the Council of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region, the Arctic Council, the Northern Dimension and its partnerships.
Second European Department
Send your good work in the knowledge base is simple. Use the form below
Students, graduate students, young scientists who use the knowledge base in their studies and work will be very grateful to you.
Hosted at http://www.allbest.ru/
Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation
Saint Petersburg State University
Economics and Finance (FINEK)
Faculty of Regional Studies, Informatics, Tourism and Mathematical Methods
Department of Regional Economics and Nature Management
Coursework by discipline
Regional economy
Comparison of the social policy of Russia and Sweden
Performed by: Vdovina Alexander, group R-312
Saint Petersburg 2011
- Introduction
- Social policy of Russia: problems of development
- Swedish model of social policy
- conclusions
- List of used literature
Introduction
Social policy in a broad sense should be considered as a set of theoretical principles and practical measures developed and implemented by state and non-state bodies, organizations and institutions aimed at creating the necessary conditions for life, meeting the social needs of the population, creating a favorable social climate in society.
Social policy is formed and implemented in the process of activity of the subject represented by state structures, public organizations, local governments, as well as production and other teams. It is aimed at achieving goals and results related to improving the material and social well-being, improving the quality of life of the population and socio-political stability, and preventing the possible emergence of hotbeds of social tension.
But, it should be noted that the fundamental constitutional characteristic of our state - "social" - does not correspond to reality. For various reasons, state regulation of the economy does not help its transformation into a socially oriented one.
In my opinion, this is an extremely important issue today. And his understanding is sharpened at the sight of, for example, the Scandinavian (Swedish) model of social policy, which is otherwise called the "Society of Countless Benefits." In the quest for equality, the Swedish Social Democrats have effectively built a welfare state. It is responsible for providing quality services to all citizens in a number of important areas: education, health care, care for children and the elderly, and the labor market.
In this connection, I would like to consider both the Swedish and Russian models of socio-economic policy, obviously assuming the advantage of the first, and suggest possible ways of transformation in this area in our country.
social policy financial insurance
Social policy of Russia: problems of development
The definition of "social" prescribed in the Constitution of the Russian Federation in relation to our state, unfortunately, today has no confirmation in practice. The reality looks like this:
1. Progressive degradation of fixed assets, the depreciation of which is not compensated by new investments. At present, the physical and moral depreciation of fixed assets has reached 60%, and the technological backlog of almost all sectors of the national economy from the world level is rapidly increasing. At the same time, there is practically no equipment renewal, for 2007-2008. investment activity was halved, R&D costs decreased several times, most of the depreciation deductions were not directed to investments, but were actually withdrawn from the reproduction process. The deepening decline in production, which exceeded 50% in industry, and 70% in its science-intensive industries, everywhere led to a significant underutilization of production capacities, which does not allow maintaining their efficient operation and technological regime. The efficiency of social production has sharply declined (specific electricity consumption per unit of GDP increased by 23%, labor productivity fell by 28%), which reflects the overall decline in the competitiveness of the Russian economy. In fact, the economy has entered a mode of narrowed reproduction, an irreversible process of destruction of the scientific and industrial potential of the country is developing, and there is an increasing degradation of the production apparatus in the branches of material production.
2. Deindustrialization of the national economy, a clear shift in the direction of making its structure heavier due to the outstripping decline in science-intensive industries and the production of consumer goods, an increase in the share of primary industries (primarily the fuel and energy complex) and the service sector (financial and trade sectors) in the structure of production and investment , a reduction in the share of mechanical engineering in the structure of social production and an increase in the share of the fuel and energy complex indicate the structural degradation of the Russian economy, a progressive reduction in the production of highly processed goods, the curtailment of industries that are the basis of modern economic growth and maintaining employment.
3. The threat of mass unemployment and impoverishment of a significant part of the population due to both the absolute reduction in production and de-industrialization, during which the creation of new jobs in the primary industries and in the service sector does not compensate for the release of workers from the manufacturing industries. With further deepening of the industrial recession, hidden unemployment, currently reaching up to 20% of the employed, will inevitably turn into an open form, which will create a serious threat of uncontrolled growth of social tension and further destruction of human potential.
4. The export of capital, its binding in speculative and intermediary operations, due to the resulting isolation of commercial and financial capital from production capacities, as well as the high uncertainty in the effectiveness of capital investments due to galloping inflation and the uncertainty of property rights, the underdevelopment of the legal system for ensuring investment activity and resolving economic disputes. The export of capital exceeding 10 billion dollars a year with a small amount of imports, as well as the concentration of banking activity in financing speculative activities, make it impossible to maintain expanded reproduction and update the country's production apparatus. The volume of foreign exchange reserves accumulated by Russian business entities, withdrawn from the economic turnover of the irrational economy, is 20-30 billion dollars and is comparable to the annual accumulation fund.
5. Brain drain and degradation of human potential, disintegration of society and the emergence of a threat of class conflicts, destruction of the foundations of social stability. The growing polarization of the population (the income gap between the top and bottom ten percent of the population has reached 11 times and continues to grow) is accompanied by the impoverishment of a significant part of the population (27% of the population lives below the poverty level), a sharp decrease in the level of social security and government spending on social guarantees.
6. Criminalization of economic activity, which undermines market competition and state regulation, causing a rapid increase in the weight of the shadow economy, the degree of real monopolization of the national economy. According to official estimates, the sphere of the shadow economy covered 40% of trade turnover and 28% of services to the population of social production, a significant part of enterprises in the financial and trade sectors, and the service sector are under the influence of criminal structures. The criminalization of social production seriously complicates the creation of new enterprises, suppresses competition, and is accompanied by corruption in public authorities. The significant scale of corruption, in turn, sharply reduces the efficiency of the state apparatus, including the activities of law enforcement agencies, makes it impossible to productively use a large arsenal of methods of state regulation of the economy, including legal support for market competition mechanisms. Merging the state apparatus with criminal structures greatly complicates the achievement of the goals of economic stabilization, active structural policy and social protection.
7. Galloping inflation, fluctuating between 10-25% per month, extremely hampered long-term economic activity, production development, investment and innovation activity.
8. Threat of destruction of the country's transport and energy infrastructure, increased likelihood of accidents in energy and transport networks due to the long-term lack of investment in their maintenance, renewal and development.
When assessing the current state of social policy in Russia and the features of its socio-economic transformation, two aspects stand out:
· socio-economic according to the criterion of post-industrial changes taking place in the developed countries of the world, as well as in relation to their own historical experience and traditions;
· geo-economic - according to the place and role of the country in the modern world economy, in global and regional economic structures and institutions.
These two interrelated sides of the same process, with the decisive importance of the first side, show that issues of social policy, especially in the long term, cannot be considered in isolation from the prospects for the country's economic development. It is impossible to implement an effective and efficient social policy without achieving high sustainable rates of economic growth. If social reforms are not linked to economic reforms and are aimed at achieving the dynamic development of Russian society, then, of course, the main measures of social policy will be doomed to failure.
Of course, the listed problems, some of which have become acute, threatening the economic security of the country, are interconnected and caused by the inadequacy of the ongoing economic and social policy. It is necessary to conduct an appropriate active economic and social policy aimed at solving the problems listed above and eliminating the causes that cause them.
Swedish model of social policy
At the beginning of the twenty-first century, the course of development of advanced countries is dominated by social factors, the impact of which covers all spheres of the economy and leads to a change in the structure of social needs, types of economic activity and universal values.
History shows that the transformational process of transition from a command-administrative system to a social-market economy is based on various economic development models. American (USA, Canada), Japanese (Japan, South Korea) models are known, as well as continental (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France) and Scandinavian (Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland). There is no universal transformation model and it is hardly possible, but the theoretical aspects and practical experience of these processes are important for developing the concept of socialization of the national Russian economy, creating mechanisms and financial instruments for its implementation.
Of greatest interest to the Russian Federation is the Swedish model and current attempts to reform it.
The "Swedish model" characterizes the type of economic system in which:
The state has a significant influence on the development of a market economy
conflict situations in the labor market are resolved through collective bargaining with the active participation of trade unions
the goal of the social policy of the state is to achieve a high quality of life for all segments of the population
This is due to the following reasons:
· as the main priorities of socio-economic development, indicators of full employment and equalization of the income level of the population were chosen
Since 1932 (with the exception of the period from 1976 to 1982), the Social Democrats have been in power in Sweden
Trade unions have a strong position, which have a significant impact on the level and dynamics of growth in incomes of the population
Swedes, like Russians, closely perceive the idea of equality
Sweden was the first country in many social undertakings. This applies, first of all, to the institution of social partnership, which began in 1938, when the Swedish Federation of Trade Unions and the Swedish Federation of Employers signed an agreement on the peaceful settlement of labor conflicts and the need to conclude collective agreements. Sweden came to the need before anyone else and began to implement an active labor market policy; introduced a ban on the construction of nuclear power plants; developed a course towards building a society of general welfare, redistributing huge funds through the state budget.
The result of a consistent social policy was a high level of political culture, which allowed:
to form a public system of dialogue and the corporate nature of relations between different strata of society
achieve the implementation of such important economic tasks of socio-economic development as full employment, a stable price level, long-term dynamic economic growth, a high standard of living and social guarantees for the majority of the population, economic development without social upheavals and political conflicts
This, in turn, contributed to the development of the priority of the human factor, creativity in stimulating labor activity, which was reflected in the concept of "human capital".
An analysis of the development of the Swedish economy allows us to conclude that it is built, first of all, on the ideas of Keynesianism regarding the place and role of the state in the economic system.
The first economic reform in this state was carried out during the Great Depression of the 1930s. A way out of this situation was found by strengthening state regulation of the economy, and in Sweden from the very beginning the state was focused on the implementation of social functions.
The founder of the Swedish model is G. Myrdal, who substantiated and proved the close relationship between the development of technology and technology and the progress of society, because everything that is done has as its goal the benefit of humanity.
Stability in society was achieved through compromise between the state, enterprises and employees, who made mutual concessions to each other. The workers refused to carry out large-scale political actions, nationwide strikes and calls for the nationalization of property, and employers recognized the right of the state to implement social reforms. As a result, a special culture was formed, in which all the problems of society were solved only by peaceful means. In fact, the maximum degree of state intervention in the market system was achieved.
In the pursuit of equality, the Swedish Social Democrats have effectively built a welfare state that is responsible for providing quality services to all citizens in a number of important areas of education, health care, childcare and the elderly.
The main element of Swedish social policy is insurance. Its goal is to meet public needs for reliable insurance protection against accidental risks: providing citizens with economic protection in case of illness, at the birth of a child and old age (general insurance), in connection with accidents and occupational diseases (insurance against accidents at work), unemployment (unemployment insurance and financial assistance). The use of insurance mechanisms in the social security system provides equal opportunities to receive guaranteed social assistance, regardless of the reason for applying (an insured event), known as "public assistance". Universality should be considered the key to this approach: such protection applies to all inhabitants of Sweden, regardless of occupation, and therefore is called "general social policy". However, the right to a number of social benefits depends on an assessment of their need, employment and voluntary participation. The social policy of Sweden provides a high standard of living and social guarantees for the majority of the population. In terms of the share of social spending in GDP, the country came out on top in the world.
In the Swedish model, full employment of the population is achieved by an active role of the state with a more passive role of trade unions, since unemployment cannot be dealt with only by reducing wages, and when demand for labor increases, unions cannot ensure price stability with moderate wage demands. Therefore, the central point in the original version of the Swedish model (back in the 50s of the last century) was the responsibility of the government for economic stability and full employment of the population, and trade unions, together with employers' organizations, were responsible for the level of wages.
According to Josta Ren, a leading economist at the Swedish Trade Union Central Association and one of the founders of the Rehn-Meidner model, the solution to the unemployment-inflation dilemma boils down to the following: it is necessary to apply a set of universal tax restrictions that encourage entrepreneurs to keep prices low relative to wages. and thereby effectively resist inflationary processes. Full employment of the population is ensured by special measures, a special policy in the labor market. The combination of general economic measures to keep the overall demand for labor somewhat below the level that guarantees work for everyone, everywhere, and active selective labor market policies, as well as in the field of social guarantees aimed at supporting weak population groups, industries and regions, has become the essence of the Swedish models. This point of the model also explains the role that was intended for social policy in the labor market, the task of which is to help job seekers to fill vacancies. Therefore, it is natural that the Swedish labor market is very developed and flexible, and the share of expenditures for this area in the state budget is very high. Moreover, it is characteristic that measures that mainly provide for the training and retraining of personnel account for significantly more expenses than for the payment of unemployment benefits.
The right to free medical care or to pay a part of the cost of treatment is guaranteed in Sweden by authorities outside the health system. Each Landsting (regional government) is responsible for ensuring that any of its inhabitants have free access to good health care. Approximately 80% of collected income taxes go to finance health care. The state pays from 30 to 100% of the costs of medical care and medicines. At the same time, the National Insurance System compensates for two types of expenses: payment for medicines prescribed by doctors and dental services. However, there are some limitations. On average, Swedes pay no more than 900 crowns (about $120) per year for medicines, insurance payments are higher than this amount, but no more than 1800 crowns for 12 months. Payments are made not in cash, but by transferring funds directly to pharmacies from insurance funds. Since January 1999, Sweden introduced new rules for subsidizing dental treatment, which encourage people to regularly engage in prevention and not to start the disease.
In addition, all residents of the country with an annual income of at least 6,000 kroons are covered by the national insurance system, which guarantees benefits in case of illness. Temporary disability benefit currently amounts to 80% of the amount of lost income, although not so long ago it reached 90% of wages. During the first three weeks of illness, employees receive compensation from employers, after their expiration - the benefit is guaranteed by the state in the amount of 77.6% of the amount of lost income, but not more than 598 kroons per day, while the number of sick days of employees is not limited.
In modern Sweden, there are other types of social security. Thus, insurance against industrial accidents involves, in the event of illness or disability caused by an industrial injury, first the issuance of benefits on a general basis, and then special insurance coverage can be assigned as additional payments, depending on the severity of the consequences - it applies to all employees on a general basis. hire. If the injury results in total disability, the victim is entitled to an allowance equal to 100% of the lost earned income until reaching retirement age. The health insurance fund pays for treatment costs in excess of the benefits. The accident insurance fund at work was created from contributions transferred by employers in the amount of 1.38% of the wage fund.
There are two unemployment benefit systems in Sweden. The first (voluntary) is called job loss insurance and is financed (with government support and oversight) by special union-linked insurance funds. Almost 90% of all workers are members of these funds. The conditions for receiving benefits are: membership in the insurance fund for at least one year and at least six months of work for the previous year; registration as unemployed at the labor exchange; participation in the program of training and retraining of personnel; obligation to take the offered job.
Since January 1998, a new state insurance fund has been operating in Sweden, through which any capable citizen can receive unemployment benefits. This system is called the material support of the labor market and includes all those who are not covered by the insurance fund in the event of a job loss. At the same time, the unemployed person must be registered with the labor exchange and work for at least six months before dismissal.
The current insurance system provides equal rights for parents, both mother and father of the child. There are two types of parental support. The first is the birth allowance, which is usually paid within 480 days. If the mother and father take care of the child together, then 60 days out of 480 are reserved for each of the parents, and either of them can claim funds for the remaining period. Moreover, in the first 390 days, the amount of the benefit paid is equal to the sickness benefit (80% of lost income), and then it is provided in the amount of 60 crowns per day. Another type is sick child care allowance, which is usually paid for no more than 60 days per child per year.
Another type of financial support for families with children is the allowance for children under the age of 16 (at the rate of 950 kroons per child per month). Moreover, this allowance, unlike most others, is not taxed, and its amount is determined by the decision of the Riksdag. Families with more than three children receive additional payments.
For families with children, compensation for part of utility bills is provided, its amount depends on the number of children, the amount of income and the amount of payment for utilities.
For decades, two interconnected pension schemes have operated in Sweden. The first, which entered into force as early as 1913 (and modernized in 1946), was designed to guarantee the social security of each resident, and involved the payment of the so-called basic (people's, or basic) pension. In 1960, a decision was made to pay state pension supplements, or additional (service, labor) pensions, which guaranteed a link between the size of the pension and previous labor income. Old-age, disability (“early pensions”) and survivors' pensions were paid in accordance with the provisions of both schemes. Since 1999, the pension reform has begun, due to the current state of the economy: according to the authors of the reform, it has the ability to solve urgent demographic, financial, and political problems. The old system of financing old-age pensions began to experience difficulties due to demographic problems (continuous increase in the share of pensioners), and the funds of the General Pension Fund could soon be in short supply. It was necessary to either reduce the amount of pension payments or increase contributions. In addition, the system was infringing on the interests of low-income people, and the Riksdag, after a long discussion in 1994, decided to implement a reform that began five years later.
The new pension system, firstly, takes into account lifetime income, secondly, provides a guaranteed pension for those who received very low incomes or none at all, and thirdly, includes a system of mandatory contributions to non-state pension funds. funds to individual accounts (contributions to the pension system amount to 18.5% of income received, including 2.5% to individual accounts). Unlike the previous system, the pension period includes time spent at home caring for a child or spent on education and military service. The terms of retirement have been changed, although the retirement age has remained the same - 65 years. Before the reform, it was possible to retire at the age of 60 to 70 years (if up to 65 - the amount of pension is less, if later - more). Under the new system, early retirement is possible upon reaching the age of 61, and the deadline is 67 years.
The pension system also provides for the payment of pensions to the disabled and widows. These innovations caused a wave of discussions in the country, which are discussed to this day. Supporters of reforms believe that the new system guarantees a higher level of stability in the event of economic shocks. Speaking about the shortcomings of the system, its opponents note the growth of differences in the size of pensions, which leads to an increase in inequality between pensioners. At the same time, this radical reform attracted the attention of other countries and stimulated similar processes.
Having adopted the principle of general welfare, the Swedes gradually expanded the public sector of the economy to a size that made the country unique in this area: employment in the public sector reached one third of the able-bodied population. Naturally, this was reflected in exceptionally high tax rates. Total government spending, including the costs of maintaining the public sector and transfer payments, exceeded 60% of Sweden's GDP, which brought it to the first place in the world in this indicator. The high level of taxation allowed the state to concentrate significant financial resources in its hands and direct them to solve social problems.
At present, the share of social spending in GDP fluctuates between 31-35%, social insurance payments amount to 30% of the population's total income.
The social insurance system is funded by state and local taxes. The main source (over 40%) is contributions from employers calculated from the wage fund. In the 1970s, social insurance contributions paid by workers were replaced by employer-funded contributions. From 1970 to 2007, according to the current tax legislation, they increased from 14 to 37.5% of the payroll for individuals - employers, for collective agreements - up to 43.6% for workers and 46.4% for employees. Citizens engaged in self-employment pay their own social insurance costs.
The experience of Sweden is interesting in the sense that in its socio-economic practice, the general patterns of development of a socially oriented market economy, inherent in other countries of the post-industrial society, have manifested themselves most clearly.
Studying the patterns and features of the formation of social work and social policy in Sweden, isolating the driving factors for the formation of an effective model and mechanisms for regulating the interests of various social groups and segments of the population, with their skillful adaptation to Russian conditions, can contribute to the creation of a balanced social policy in the Russian Federation.
conclusions
Summing up, I can note that my predictions were confirmed: the Russian system of social policy is radically different from the Swedish system and needs to be reformed immediately.
The foundation of a new social policy that implements the social and humanitarian responsibility of the Russian state to its citizens should be a legally fixed minimum of social benefits guaranteed to each citizen, taking into account regional characteristics and historical and cultural traditions of all the peoples of our country. In the near future, it is necessary to concentrate efforts on those urgent problems, the solution of which will help to significantly improve the living conditions of people and increase social support for reforms.
The social policy and ideology of Russia in the transitional period should proceed from a catch-up concept that takes into account the experience and mistakes of other countries, progressive trends in social and worldview development. The main principles of the social strategy should be the following:
· labor morality and business ethics, the combination of personal and public interest, the union of labor and property;
· a combination of universality with a differentiated approach to different groups of the population, a balance in the relationship between the family and the state budget in solving social problems (housing, public utilities, transport services, etc.) as the level of labor incomes increases and production efficiency increases;
· a combination of complexity with a targeted, targeted approach to solving social problems, the establishment of minimum living standards at the federal and regional levels, including socially acceptable norms for the provision of socially significant services, combined with targeted, targeted assistance to especially needy groups of the population;
· Strengthening the preventive targeted nature of social policy through the use of social monitoring and analysis of social indicators, highlighting those that show the situation of a social explosion.
In this regard, it is necessary to increase flexibility and dynamism in the conduct of social events and strengthen the role of social forecasting.
Choosing the right social orientation becomes an extremely important problem. An analysis of the current socio-economic situation and the course of reform in Russia testifies to the complexity of the chosen strategy and tactics of socio-economic transformation and, above all, to determining the ultimate goal of reform. The expansion of the zone of social disasters was a natural result of the implementation of the development strategy, the main goal of which was the formation of a market economy. The creation of a market economy acted as an end in itself, and not a means of achieving a more efficient economy and, on this basis, raising the level and quality of life of the population.
Unfortunately, the attitude towards economic development and reforms as an end in itself continues to dominate in the development, substantiation and decision-making in the social policy of the state.
In determining social priorities, in my opinion, the theory of the social state, which is the official doctrine that determines the formation of the state structure of the Russian Federation, should serve as a theoretical and methodological basis. However, as most researchers note, the principles of not a welfare state, but a state of the era of "classical liberalism", based on the ideology of individualism and non-interference in economic and social life, are being implemented in practice. And, accordingly, Russia does not yet meet the criteria used in world practice when characterizing a welfare state.
According to the theory of the social state, the program goal of the state is to provide decent living conditions for the population. The state is obliged to create conditions for human development. The mechanism of state regulation should be aimed at ensuring the welfare of the entire population. At the same time, the task of state authorities is to find a balance between self-regulation of the market and state intervention, dosing the volume of economic freedom and state social guarantees. In this regard, the problem of integrating state forms of regulation of economic and especially social processes into the market economy is of particular importance. The regulation of social processes and the implementation of a social policy aimed at reducing social costs is becoming one of the main functions of the state.
The main goal of social policy is a significant reduction in the scale of poverty; increasing the protection of socially vulnerable households that do not have the ability to solve social problems on their own and need state support; ensuring universal accessibility and socially acceptable quality of basic social benefits.
The main directions of social policy should be focused on the following long-term goals:
· Achievement of the level and quality of life of the population, corresponding to the national ideals and standards of economically developed countries, including in the field of education, healthcare, environmental cleanliness, raising children, ensuring the economic rights and freedoms of citizens, protecting their person and property from crime;
· Ensuring stable and high rates of economic growth and scientific and technological progress, the competitiveness of products of domestic producers in the domestic and foreign markets, the restoration of Russia's position as one of the leading scientific and industrial powers, the effective integration of its economy into world economic relations;
· ensuring favorable economic conditions for strengthening the sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and defense capability, international prestige and influence of Russia, including in the countries of the former Soviet republics, protection of the legitimate rights and interests of Russian citizens and organizations abroad;
development of human potential, harmonization of social relations (that is, providing conditions for the formation of a system of social groups and stable ties between them; creating a system dominated by relations of complementarity and cooperation, rather than conflict and struggle, high social mobility of the population, support for socially acceptable self-realization each individual), the weakening of social polarization and the prevention of the disintegration of society, the excessive strengthening of social differentiation, the containment of the transition of conflicts of interests between social groups into an antagonistic form.
List of used literature
Tritsenko N.N. Choice - welfare state: Proceedings of the international. conference "Social models of society in the period of transition to a socially oriented market economy: principles, practice, prospects". M, 1999.
· Spiridonov L.I. Theory of Government and Rights. M., 1997.
· Andre A. The principle of the social state and its consolidation in the constitution // Social progress. Bonn, 1990.
Volkov A. Society of countless benefits // Expert. - 2006. - No. 3.
· Lameko P. The Swedish model of economic reform // Belarusian Banking Bulletin. - 2001 - No. 2.
Pagrotsky L. The European model needs to be modernized //Dipkurier.- 2001.- No. 10
Hosted on Allbest.ru
Similar Documents
Social market economy and its formation on the territory of two highly developed countries: Austria and Sweden. Features of the socially oriented economy of these states, their position in the world market. Economic relations of Russia with Austria and Sweden.
term paper, added 10/30/2011
The main characteristics of a socially oriented economy, signs and principles of its development. Goals, objectives and directions of its formation in Russia. Analysis of the functioning of such a model in Sweden and Belarus. Indicators of the effectiveness of economic policy.
term paper, added 10/13/2017
Theoretical aspects of the emergence and development of economic policy. State regulation of the economy as a sphere of application of economic policy. Goals and principles of the fiscal, budgetary, credit and financial economic policy of the state.
term paper, added 10/26/2010
General characteristics of the main problems of the development of institutions in the socio-economic system of Russia. N. Kondratiev as one of the representatives of the Russian school of economic thought. Consideration of the stages of development of institutionalism in the Russian Federation.
thesis, added 05/20/2014
Acquaintance with the scientific inventions of Sweden. most famous discoveries. Implementation by Swedish builders of unique energy saving projects in the construction of public and industrial buildings. Directions of the state innovation policy.
presentation, added 09/26/2014
The study of the essence, main goals, directions and principles of the social policy of the Russian Federation. Economic, ideological and distributive function of social policy. Methods of supporting the income of the population through the social security system.
term paper, added 04/25/2013
Theoretical foundations of the social policy of the state, its basic principles and functions. Types of social policy of the state, its main directions. Features of social policy in the Russian Federation. Key problems of social policy in Russia.
term paper, added 03/24/2014
The concept of a fair distribution of income. Tasks and directions of social policy. Classification of its models in the countries of Western Europe (on the example of Germany and Sweden). Using the experience of Western countries in the socio-economic development of Russia.
term paper, added 12/05/2010
Specifics of the transmission mechanisms for the implementation of the monetary policy of the Bank of Russia in modern conditions. Analysis of the state monetary policy in the Russian Federation during the period of economic instability, directions of its development.
term paper, added 06/20/2016
Regional socio-economic development of the Russian Federation in the post-crisis period. Russian experience in the application of federal targeted programs as an instrument of regional policy at the federal level. Features of the program-target budget.
Today, Sweden is one of the main foreign investors in the Russian economy, and Swedish investments for the period from 2007 to 2015. amounted to 8.6 billion dollars.
Ambassador of Sweden to Russia Peter Erickson told CCI-Inform about Russian-Swedish relations and prospects for the development of economic ties.
- Mr. Erickson, please tell us about the economic relations between our countries.
Sweden has been among the main foreign investors in the Russian economy for many years. Swedish companies such as IKEA, SCA, Scania, VolvoTrucks and others have invested millions of dollars in projects in various Russian regions, creating thousands of new jobs. Sweden's net direct investment in Russia was $8.6 billion from 2007 to 2015, according to the Central Bank of Russia.
At the same time, the indicators of bilateral trade do not look so impressive. In recent years, Sweden has ranked 25th among Russia's trading partners in terms of foreign trade. The main Swedish exports are telecommunications equipment, vehicles, machinery and other equipment. Russian exports to Sweden are 76% oil and oil products.
The fact that our companies are relatively more focused on investments than purely trading shows that they believe in the long-term prospects of the Russian market. In particular, IKEA plans to invest 2 billion euros in Russia over the next 5-7 years. I recently took part in the commencement ceremony of construction work on the expansion of the IKEA distribution center in the Moscow region. Upon completion of the work, the capacity of this complex will double, making it one of the largest single-client distribution centers in the world. Last year, the Swedish-British company AstraZeneca opened a plant for the production of medicines in the Kaluga region. Investments in this project amount to 224 million dollars.
In the global world, free foreign trade contributes to increased competition, investment and employment. At the same time, the changes that are taking place in the global market have a significant impact on bilateral trade. The Russian crisis after the fall in oil prices and the subsequent sharp weakening of the ruble, which led to an increase in the cost of imports - all this could not but affect the performance of Swedish exports to Russia. Its fall in 2015 compared to 2014 was 33% in value terms.
- Trade and investment are closely linked...
Yes it is. However, the positive moment is that the vast majority of Swedish companies, despite the deep crisis, intend to stay in Russia. Therefore, we can hope for an improvement in the situation in this area, provided there is a good investment climate in Russia, which, in particular, means the development of a competitive environment, common rules of the game and effective legal protection of the investor. This is in the interests of not only foreign companies, but also the Russian economy as a whole.
- What is the potential of our relations?
Sweden is interested in the further development of trade and economic relations with Russia. It seems to me that in addition to traditional areas, there is a significant reserve for mutually beneficial cooperation in such areas as energy saving, transport security, smart cities, biotechnology, creative industries, and so on.
As you know, the weakening of the ruble has led to a significant reduction in the flow of tourists from Russia abroad. Therefore, with the restoration of the Russian economy, we can expect an increase in tourist trips to Sweden. I think that my country is a great place for a family holiday. I would also advise businessmen to take a closer look at the possibilities of corporate tourism in Sweden. Developed infrastructure, harmony with nature and a lot of operating historical sights make it possible to hold corporate events of any level in Sweden.
Sweden and Russia have been trading partners for several centuries - the Russian word "torg" entered the Swedish language a thousand years ago and in Swedish means "square" - that is, "a place for trading." Our trade has developed in parallel with our societies. There has always been an exchange of raw materials between us, and this is still an important part of our trade, but over time we began to trade in machines, technologies and services.
Industrial products are still an important part of our trade. We see Swedish-made cars and transport vehicles every day on the roads of Russia. Russian families decorate their houses with Swedish design items and Swedish information systems are used everywhere in Russia. It is interesting to watch the development of so-called "green technologies" - environmental developments that save our forests, rivers and seas for future generations. Soon I will go to Kaliningrad to open a wastewater treatment plant built according to Swedish environmental technology. These facilities will provide residents of the city with clean water and improve the ecology of the coastal zone, beaches and fishing areas.
- Let's talk about Swedish tourist routes...
The Russian tourism business has grown incredibly fast in a short period of time. So far, Russian tourists mainly visit our major cities - Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Soon, I think, they will open our countryside and its opportunities for fishing, hiking, hunting, sailing.
A very large part of Sweden is nature with crystal clear water, fresh air and pristine forests. Our reserves have a well-developed infrastructure for visitors and are easily accessible by train or domestic flights.
I am sometimes surprised by the deep knowledge of Russians in Swedish geography. I realized that this is largely due to the popularity of the Soviet cartoon based on the fairy tale by Selma Lagerlöf about the journey of Nils Holgerson. As you know, Niels travels on wild geese from the south to the far north of Sweden and thus discovers his homeland. Lagerlöf describes real places and cities, and I am sure that it would be interesting for a tourist to repeat Niels' journey through Sweden - maybe not necessarily on geese, but by car or train. In 2017, we celebrate 110 years since the first full publication of Lagerlöf's novel.
- Russians and Swedes are very different. What are our differences?
I paid more attention to the similarities. Russians and Swedes have a lot in common. We have a lot of common history and we live in similar natural conditions. There are even dishes in our kitchens that are very similar: pancakes and draniki are completely familiar dishes for a Swede. Swedish vodka, in principle, does not differ from Russian. Both peoples are hardworking and enterprising. Our nature has taught us to build strong, warm houses and always take care of stocks for the winter.
I think we share a love of writing. All Swedes know and read the great Russian writers - Dostoevsky, Tolstoy, Chekhov, Bulgakov. And our Swedish ones, Astrid Lindgren and Selma Lagerlöf, gave the Russians Nils and Carlson. We equally love music, sports (hockey, football, skiing).
Of course, all people are different, but it is interesting to see our similarities.
- What are your plans for the next year?
The program is already full. I am going to Rostov-on-Don in mid-October for the Days of Sweden, during which we will organize a cultural and business program in the city (we will come with a large delegation of representatives of Swedish enterprises). At the beginning of 2017 I will go to Samara. As you know, during World War II the Swedish embassy was evacuated to Samara. And in the twenties of the last century, during the famine, the headquarters of the mission of the Swedish Red Cross was located in Samara. The catastrophic famine after the civil war caused a huge resonance in Swedish society. Large sums of money were collected for the starving people of the Volga region, and a large humanitarian operation was launched. Hundreds of thousands of people were saved thanks to the donations of ordinary Swedes. We hope to organize an exhibition about this part of our common history.
Keywords: Russian-Swedish relations, Russia-EU summit, energy security, European security
Key words: The Russian-Swedish relations, the summit Russia-EU, energy security, the European security
The article analyzes the current state of Russian-Swedish relations in the context of wider cooperation between Russia and the EU. The difficulties and successes in bilateral relations are considered, as well as the impact of the Swedish presidency in the European Union on the development of Russia's relations with this association, including in connection with such issues as energy security, the European security project, the formation of a visa-free space.
In the article the present condition of the Russian-Swedish relations, in a context of wider cooperation of Russia and EU are analyzed. Problems and successes in mutual relations are considered, and also influence of presidency of Sweden in the European Union on development of relations of Russia with this organization, including in connection with such questions as energy security, the project of the European security, formation of visa -free space are analyzed.
Top-level meetings between the leadership of the Russian Federation and the EU are traditional and are held twice a year - in the spring in our country, and in the autumn the summit is hosted by the state that chairs the United Europe during this period. The previous meeting took place in Khabarovsk on May 21-22, 2009. Now the turn has come to Stockholm, because. Since July 1, Sweden has been holding the presidency of the European Union. The Russian-EU summit took place in the Swedish capital on November 18, 2009. At these forums, the most important and complex issues of our country's relations with the European interstate association are discussed, solutions are being sought for emerging contradictions and problems, prospects for further interaction and development of integration processes within the "Greater Europe" are determined.
The agenda of such summits, as a rule, is very busy, and the meetings themselves arouse close interest both on the European continent and around the world. This is quite natural, because. Russia and the European Union are natural strategic partners, they have a long history of relations that they aim to develop in the future, common civilizational values, and serious economic interdependence. Thus, the trade turnover of the Russian Federation with the member states of the European Union in 2008 amounted to 382 billion dollars, which is more than half of the volume of our country's foreign trade. Russia is the EU's third most important partner after the United States and China. Experts draw attention to such facts. The volume of accumulated investments in the Russian economy from the states that are members of the European Union at the end of 2008 amounted to almost 221.5 billion dollars, which corresponds to 83.7% of the total amount of accumulated foreign investments in the economy of our country. Approximately two thirds of the total volume of accumulated Russian investments abroad are in the EU zone.
At present, Russian-Swedish relations are going through hard times. In the summer of 2009, there were even rumors about the possibility of transferring the Russia-EU summit to a more neutral Brussels, which, as you know, is the administrative center of the European Union. However, a number of leading EU states and Russia have come to a common position that for the development of bilateral relations it would be better not to break the established tradition and hold a summit meeting, as usual, on the territory of the country - the chairman.
What causes tension in relations between the northern neighbor and our country. Firstly, Swedish Foreign Minister K. Bildt was one of the first to characterize last year's events in South Ossetia as aggression against Georgia and even drew parallels with the invasion of Nazi Germany into Czechoslovakia in 1938-1939. Such an assessment of last year's situation in the Caucasus brought Sweden into the group of countries (Poland, Great Britain and the Baltic states), which at the end of summer and autumn of last year advocated the introduction of the most severe sanctions by the European Union against the Russian Federation. These proposals, as is known, did not meet with understanding and support from the majority of EU member states.
Secondly, Sweden has been showing political activity in Eastern Europe in recent years, which affects the strategic interests of our country. For example, again, together with Poland, the Scandinavians put forward the Eastern Partnership program, according to which 350 million euros are allocated to the former six Soviet republics under certain conditions until 2013. The leaders of Swedish foreign policy say that they will make every effort to integrate the Eastern European post-Soviet states into the European Union, that Ukraine and Belarus historically belong to European countries.
Thirdly, the Swedish leadership quite often criticizes the situation with human rights in Russia. Fourth, Sweden has long been one of the most serious opponents of the construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline, which is geostrategically important for Russia. This project is supported by leading European states, primarily Germany, which will be able to receive Russian gas directly, bypassing transit countries, whose behavior is sometimes difficult to predict. The Swedish representatives stated that their objections to this energy project were not political or economic, but were purely environmental in nature. In this regard, the Ambassador of Sweden to our country, T. Bertelman, said in an interview: “Actually, I am upset because here in Russia it is very difficult to find understanding regarding our position: we are not talking about the politicization of this issue by Sweden from anti-Russian positions” . Just before the summit in Stockholm itself, the Swedish government agreed to lay the Nord Stream gas pipeline in its special economic zone in the Baltic Sea.
However, the existing disagreements in bilateral relations did not affect the results of the summit in Stockholm. First, Russian-Swedish relations have significant potential for improvement. Thus, political contradictions did not significantly affect the economic relations between the two countries. Sweden is a relatively small country with a population of 9 million people. - ranks tenth in terms of investment in the Russian economy. This year, a large Volvo plant was opened in Kaluga, which will produce 15,000 heavy trucks annually. In total, today there are about 400 Swedish companies on the Russian market. Among them are such world famous companies as IKEA, Ericson, [email protected], SCA,SKF and others. According to available preliminary information, during his stay in Stockholm, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev may meet with the head of the Swedish state, King Carl YI Gustav.
Secondly, most of the EU countries, including the most influential member states, are in favor of developing constructive relations with Russia. Currently, work is underway to prepare a new Strategic Partnership Agreement between the Russian Federation and the EU, and projects are being prepared to form common spaces in various spheres of life between the two parties.
The agenda of the Stockholm summit included a wide range of issues of mutual interest to both sides. Thus, global problems were in the center of attention. First of all, they should include issues related to the interaction between Russia and the European Union to overcome the consequences of the global financial and economic crisis. According to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov: "Cooperation between Russia and the EU has largely contributed to the fact that we managed to achieve concrete results during the G20 meeting in Pittsburgh." The main directions for the development of this interaction were discussed in Stockholm.
Another global issue discussed at the meeting in Stockholm was climate change and its consequences. This is connected with the process of preparation of new international environmental agreements. During the Stockholm summit, active preparations were underway for the fifth meeting of the countries of the Kyoto Protocol, which took place in December 2009 in Copenhagen under the auspices of the UN. As part of this meeting, it was planned to reach an agreement on the adoption of a new format of an international agreement. They are designed to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which limits the emission of so-called greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which expires in 2012. Russia and the EU are actively participating in this process and coordinating positions on the global climate problem in the interests of both sides.
Along with global issues, the summit raised issues of a regional nature related to the development of Russian-European relations. Discussions continued in Stockholm on the project to create a new European security system put forward by Russian President D.A. Medvedev. These proposals are now being studied in many European capitals.
The traditional topic of the RF-EU summits is the energy security and stability of Russian supplies of hydrocarbon fuel to the Union member countries. Today, the Russian Federation is the largest foreign supplier of natural gas to the European Union. Our country accounts for 44% of the total volume of gas supplied by import to the Union. In terms of supplies of oil and oil products to the EU, Russia firmly ranks second after Saudi Arabia. For many decades our country has been and remains the leading and reliable supplier of energy resources to foreign Europe.
The Russian side is concerned about the visa problem in relations with the European Union. Now between our country and the EU there is an agreement on facilitating the visa regime. Not so long ago, the Russian side proposed amendments to this agreement. Their essence is to expand the circle of citizens who could cross the borders of the EU and Russia without visas, or would receive them for a five-year period. However, the ultimate goal of Russian diplomacy is the removal of visa barriers to the movement of people on the European continent. The European Union cannot yet name the exact date when these barriers can be eliminated.
The Stockholm summit did not adopt a new Strategic Partnership Agreement between Russia and the European Union. The negotiation process on this issue has not yet been completed. Six rounds of negotiations have already taken place. A breakthrough in this matter is expected in 2010, when, according to some politicians and experts, a new Agreement may be concluded. Hopes in this regard are associated with the presidency of Spain in the EU, which will replace Sweden in this post. The Spanish authorities are in favor of strengthening cooperation between Russia and the European Union.
In conclusion, we can conclude that the Stockholm summit of the Russian Federation - the EU in November 2009 did not become a passing diplomatic event. The success of this high-level meeting can contribute not only to the further constructive development of relations between Russia and the European Union, but also to a thaw in Russian-Swedish relations
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived on a visit to Sweden, which presides over the European Union, where a Russia-EU summit will be held today. In parallel, Russian-Swedish talks will take place.
These events were preceded by an informal dinner the day before, which was given in honor of the Russian guest by Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.
In recent years, relations between Sweden and Russia have been difficult. So much so that the holding of the current Russia-EU summit was in jeopardy. The deterioration of relations began in 2006, when the center-right government of Reinfeldt came to power, where the former Prime Minister Carl Bildt, well-known for criticizing Russia, took the post of Foreign Minister.
Having an ill-wisher in the face of Sweden is unpleasant. This is a rich and authoritative country with one of the most high-tech economies and perhaps the highest level of social protection in the world.
The Swedes are one of the key players in Northern Europe, their companies actually control most of the economies of the Baltic countries. In addition, Sweden is one of the ten largest arms manufacturers in the world.
The antipathy of the Swedish leadership towards Russia was especially pronounced during last year's war in the Caucasus. Bildt was one of the first people in the world to talk about "Russian aggression".
Sweden, together with the UK, Poland and the Baltic countries, as a sign of disagreement with the actions of the Russian Federation in South Ossetia, called for freezing relations between Russia and the EU and imposing sanctions against us (other EU countries did not support this).
This year, Stockholm also stood at the origins of the EU's Eastern Partnership program. It involves the development of special relations and economic assistance from Europe to such countries as Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus. In Russia, many see this as an attempt to create a cordon sanitaire around our country.
Among other things, the Swedes have long refused to approve the construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in their economic zone. (It is impossible to get around the waters adjacent to the Swedish island of Gotland).
Did Nord Stream correct the imperfect relations between Russia and Sweden?
The northerners referred either to the harm to the environment, or to the danger of 300-year-old shells lying at the bottom of the Baltic.
It got ridiculous. According to some Swedish experts, Russia could use the gas pipeline for espionage purposes - to spy on Swedish military installations.
Finally, Sweden is dissatisfied with the fact that the Russian Federation several years ago decided to raise export duties on round timber. She even threatened to block Russia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). (The Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs reminded about the existence of this problem on November 17 - a few hours before the opening of the Russia-EU meeting).
By July 2009, when Sweden became the EU presidency, its relations with Russia were so dismal that there were reports that the Russia-EU meeting in Stockholm had been cancelled.
Later, in October, Russian presidential aide Sergei Prikhodko said that Dmitry Medvedev had doubts about the effectiveness of holding the event in Sweden in view of the statements and actions of Swedish politicians regarding the Russian Federation.
But on November 5, an event occurred that radically influenced the improvement of our relations. Sweden agreed to the construction of the Nord Stream. Thus, the reason that prevented the holding of the Russia-EU summit in Stockholm has disappeared.
Moscow appreciated the step taken by the Swedes. "We note the pragmatism and perseverance shown by the leadership of Sweden, which, we hope, will make it possible to effectively hold both the bilateral meeting and the Russia-EU summit itself," Prikhodko said on November 17.
Natalia Antyushina, a leading researcher at the Center for Northern Europe at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences, shared her vision of Russian-Swedish relations with Pravda.Ru.
Relations between Russia and Sweden have been far from ideal in recent years. However, Russia had to listen to criticism from representatives of other Scandinavian countries.
But Finland and Norway are much more focused on economic ties with Russia than Sweden. And because their authorities could not afford such harsh statements as the Swedish.
Did Nord Stream correct the imperfect relations between Russia and Sweden?
Russia is not very interesting to Sweden as a trading partner. The Russian Federation mainly supplies energy to the West, while Sweden covers its energy needs mainly through supplies from Norway, successively displacing hydrocarbons with other energy sources.
As a result, Russia accounts for four percent of Swedish imports and two percent of exports. At the same time, despite political difficulties, the trade turnover between the two countries in the period from 2000 to 2008 increased. grew five times.
Sweden has developed a Strategy for the development of cooperation with Russia for 2005-2008. As part of the project, the country spent about 150 million euros. More than half of these funds were spent on improving the environmental situation in Russia, the rest - on economic reforms and the deepening of democracy.
A lot of problems have accumulated in politics. For example, in the event of an aggravation of Russia's relations with one of the Baltic republics or Poland, Sweden has always taken the side of our opponents.
This was the case with the transfer of the "Bronze Soldier" in Tallinn in 2007, or two years earlier with the ban on the import of Polish meat that did not meet Russian standards.
Sweden, together with Poland, initiated the Eastern Partnership program in the EU. It includes four areas of action: negotiating a free trade agreement, providing financial assistance, ensuring energy security and facilitating the visa regime.
In May of this year, Russia also received an invitation to participate. But this was done after the program was agreed by the EU with the countries of Transcaucasia, Moldova, Ukraine and Belarus, so the invitation was of a formal nature. And suspicions of the anti-Russian nature of this program could well have arisen.
But recently, Sweden, following Denmark and at the same time as Finland, gave its permission for the construction of the Nord Stream gas pipeline in its economic zone. It was a pleasant surprise. Also because Sweden, according to local experts, is not interested in gas supplies from Russia.
And the Russia-EU summit being held in Stockholm should contribute to a kind of "reset" in our relations.
