Abstract

This work presents trends and comparisons that show a change in the consumption and production of video games in times of confinement due to the health emergency. The video game industry has modified its philosophy and adapted its products to the new requirements and trends of consumers who see in this activity a way to appease the psychological and social impact due to quarantine and isolation. There is evidence of a 65% increase in the use of online video games, which has broken a world record. Products that have new aspects and considerations never before proposed by this great industry have been developed and offered, such as thematic games related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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This paper is based on the findings of the research work “Modern methodology for analyzing the process and effectiveness of distance education”, conducted by the team of the Field Research Center of the Institute for Social Analysis and Forecasting (RANEPA) in 2021. Since the beginning of the pandemic, our colleagues at the Field Research Center have conducted three waves of survey among university teachers dedicated to the urgent transition to distance learning and the ongoing digital transformation of universities. The results of the last third wave (April-May 2021) are presented in this paper. The hypotheses proposed at the start of the project have been confirmed: the respondents’ attitude to distance learning gets back to normal over time, and “hybrid” or mixed form of education begins to be perceived as a norm. However, these processes continue to take place in contrast to the stagnant problems in higher education. The overlapping of problems that have arisen due to the complexity of the higher education administration reform at its different stages creates a diversity of risks and opportunities in the process of digital transformation. The authors of this work would like not only to describe the current situation and the objective difficulties accompanying any changes, but present a map of the “bottlenecks” of modern distance learning, the “anxious moods” of certain social groups within the teaching community. The attention focused on these groups can relieve the stress of the transition to distance learning.

Abstract

In 2020-2021, the new coronavirus pandemic significantly changed the global demographic situation. Most countries of the world faced a significant increase in mortality. The spread of COVID-19 presented the greatest challenge in recent history for the health systems, as well as the social sphere and the economy of most states and has influenced the increase in the mortality in 2020-2021 in almost every country. The objective of this study is to analyze the dynamics of population mortality in 2020-2021 (January-August) and the impact of coronavirus infection on mortality and life expectancy of the Russian population. Assessing the impact of COVID-19 by directly counting the number of deaths due to coronavirus infection has its limitations: the increase in the total number of deaths significantly exceeds the official mortality from coronavirus infection. In this regard, when determining mortality from coronavirus, indicators of excess mortality and changes in life expectancy are used. Excess mortality is one of the main indicators characterizing the direct and indirect impact of the spread of COVID-19 on the population mortality and the effectiveness of different countries’ efforts to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic. The paper analyzes the operational information on the population mortality for 8 months of 2021 and detailed data for 2020 as a whole. The authors note that the decrease in life expectancy in 2020 is associated with an increase in mortality from COVID-19, circulatory diseases, respiratory diseases, digestive diseases, external and other causes in middle and older age groups.

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The paper highlights the results of the research study “Partnership and romantic relationships during the pandemic and afterwards”, conducted by the team of the Field Research Center of the Institute for Social Analysis and Forecasting (RANEPA) at the beginning of 2021. The work includes a systematic review of relevant foreign literature about changing attitudes during a pandemic in various countries, characteristics of sexual behavior, and sexual satisfaction. Turned out in a situation of self-isolation, the relationships within families, married couples and between partners were subjected to a serious test. The experience of such a long stay together was unfamiliar for many people. How did this affect the couple? How did the relationship change during the period of self-isolation and quarantine? What happened after? What are the consequences of the pandemic in this area of human life? These issues require close study by experts of various disciplines – sexologists, psychologists, physicians, as well as sociologists. The research work is based on the findings of empirical studies which can be used in social and family policy, particularly for: 1) information support of executive authorities on demographic development and demographic policy affairs; 2) development of specific directions in the field of family policy.

Abstract

This scientific report presents a study conducted by the Research Center for Social and Political Monitoring of the RANEPA Institute of Social Sciences. The relevance of research. A significant part of the able-bodied population in the country is engaged in in the shadow economy, with a significant amount of funds remaining unaccounted for. There is an obvious need to resolve the conflict of interest between the state and the citizens involved in the shadow economy, to stimulate official employment and limit non-criminal shadow economic activity while maintaining a balance of interests of all economic actors. The goal of the study is to analyze and evaluate the dynamics of the involvement of various groups of the employed population in the shadow labor market, to find optimal solutions stimulating official employment and limiting non-criminal shadow economic activity. The subject of the study is the state and dynamics of the formation of the shadow labor market in modern conditions. The main research method is an all-Russian sociological survey of the employed Russian population and a comparison of the results obtained with earlier surveys. Based on the results of the study, this paper presents an analysis and assessment of the dynamics of the involvement of various groups of the employed population in various forms of shadow relations in the labor market. The study allows us to draw the following conclusions. The results of the study show that over the past two years there has been an increase in the participation of the public in the shadow economy. The largest proportion of informal workers is still noted among those employed in private practice as their main job. Among the hired workers, the share of those without formal registration remains unchanged and even increased slightly over the past year. In general, a significant share of the employed population continues to be quite loyal to various manifestations of non-criminal shadow economic activity. This situation creates the prerequisites for maintaining the involvement of the population in the shadow labor market. Among the measures contributing to the reduction of informal employment, the respondents primarily note a reduction in tax payments, a decrease in social inequality and an increase in the role of social guarantees and social protection for workers in the formal economy. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the fact that it seeks to obtain up-to-date sociological information about the main processes taking place in the shadow labor market, their development trends in a changing epidemiological and socio-economic situation. The recommendations based on the results of the study are related to the need to adjust management decisions in the field of stimulating official employment and limiting the participation of the population in the shadow labor market.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about dramatic changes in all areas of public life, both at the country and global levels. In a situation of disorientation in which national governments found themselves in the spring of 2020, unprecedented measures were taken to close state borders, which led to a cessation or a sharp reduction in migration inflows. However, it soon became clear that the dependence of a number of sectors of the economy on migrant labor is so significant that it requires a significant mitigation/removal of the imposed restrictions. Thus, management structures are facing a serious challenge, namely the need to choose a course in migration policy that reflects a reasonable balance between the imperatives of socio-economic development and the imperatives of security in the health sector.

Abstract

The preprint considers official statistical data on fertility, migration and mortality across Russian regions in 2020-2021 and is aimed at a comparison of dynamics of these processes in the time of COVID-19 pandemic and in the preceding years. To carry out this comparison, changes of several key demographic indicators (life expectancy at birth and inputs of different age groups and causes of death into its changes; total fertility rates of children of different birth orders; indicators of migration balance) in regions of Russia in the time before and during the pandemic are considered. It is shown that regional differences in dynamics of the mortality indicators were especially large. Sources of these differences need a separate study. Changes in fertility were more uniform: the pattern with decreasing fertility of first and second children with stable fertility of 3+ children was most common across regions. For migration, a considerable decrease of number of regions with a positive migration balance was observed in 2020 and, still more, in 2021.