Abstract

Enhancing state regulatory enforcement activity aimed at minimizing risks to the public values (such as health, property, personal data, environment, and cultural heritage) is one of the key priorities of the current governance agenda in Russia. Therefore, monitoring studies intended to identify public perception of the efficiency and effectiveness of regulatory enforcement activities are highly relevant. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the dynamics of the public perceptions of the regulatory authorities’ performance in 2018 – 2011. The subject of the study is regulatory enforcement activities aimed at reducing risks to the public values. The method of the study is a representative sociological survey of the public conducted in 2021. The findings of the survey are then compared to those obtained from previous rounds of the research carried out in 2018, 2019, and 2020. The results presented in the paper contain an analysis of the dynamics in public perception of the effectiveness and efficiency of the state regulatory authorities. The paper concludes that while there are some positive trends in the public perception of the safety of public values from most of the controlled risks, the overall perception of safety levels is unsatisfactory. Most respondents find that the safety of public values is insufficient. Notably, the trends in public perception vary depending on the risk type. The greatest progress is noted in ensuring safety from environmental risks and the risks associated with healthcare services. On the contrary, the public perception of personal data protection is trending downwards. Public perceptions of the regulatory authorities’ performance in processing public complaints have not changed significantly. The novelty of the study is related to the collection and generalization of empirical data on the public assessment of effectiveness and efficiency of the state regulatory authorities based on the annual sociological surveys conducted since 2018. The paper highlights the need for further improvements in state regulatory enforcement activities. In particular, the study recommends streamlining the procedures for handling citizen complaints to state regulatory enforcement bodies and taking additional measures to ensure the protection of personal data and privacy

Abstract

The federal legislation defines a list of regulatory enforcement activities aimed at minimizing risks to legally protected public values (such as life and health, property, privacy, other human rights, plants and animals, natural habitats). Therefore, monitoring studies aiming at collecting public perceptions of the protection of these public values are highly relevant for tracking the reform progress. The goal of this paper is to identify public perceptions of the extent of protection of public values and evaluate regulatory enforcement performance. The subject of the study is regulatory enforcement activity aimed at reducing risks to the public values. The primary method of the study is a representative public survey, the findings of which are compared to earlier surveys carried out in 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021. The results presented in the paper include an analysis of the dynamics in public perception of the effectiveness and efficiency of the state regulatory enforcement activities. The paper concludes that while there are some positive trends in improving public perceptions of the safety of public values, the overall level of these perceptions is unsatisfactory. Less than a half of all the survey participants have positive perceptions on any of the risks considered. The frequency of risk events remains high: half of the respondents faced at least one risk in the 2 years preceding the survey. Both time and financial costs borne by citizens applying for protection to the state regulatory and enforcement authorities have not changed significantly. This shows that the efficiency of state regulatory enforcement authorities has not improved in the public view. The novelty of the study is related to collecting and analyzing empirical data to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of state regulatory enforcement bodies, as perceived by the public. The paper recommends streamlining the procedures for handling citizen complaints to state regulatory enforcement bodies and improving public access to information on the ways of protecting public values from the risks.

Abstract

Digital transformation is one of Russia’s national goals and development objectives. Therefore, monitoring sociological studies aimed at collecting public perceptions of effectiveness and risks of government digitalization are highly relevant. The goal of this paper is to evaluate the effects of government digitalization from the public perspective. The subject of the study is the interaction between the state (public authorities and state institutions) and citizens with the use of digital technologies during the performance of publicly relevant government functions. The primary method of the study is a representative sociological public survey. The results presented in the paper contain an evaluation of the effectiveness of government digitalization from the citizens’ perspective, an analysis of the public readiness to engage in digital interaction with the public authorities as well as an evaluation of the risks associated with government digitalization, as perceived by the public. The paper demonstrates that a vast majority of Russians (88.2 percent) have engaged in digital interaction with the state over the past year. The study concludes that while overall evaluation of government digitalization effectiveness in terms of improving governance quality is positive, some areas are more problematic. For instance, less than a quarter of the respondents feels that the use of digital technology has improved the quality of education. Despite significant experience in digital interaction with the state, most respondents are not always ready to choose the digital channel for every issue. The choice of digital channel over other possible interaction means mostly depends on digital skills. The respondents evaluate the risks associated with government digitalization as high. Better educated respondents with higher digital skills are more likely to note that government digitalization risks are substantial, compared to other citizens. The novelty of the study is related to developing and implementing sociological instruments for measuring effectiveness and risks of government digitalization as perceived by the public. The paper recommends to account for the public evaluation of digital government effectiveness and risks while planning and implementing the government’s digital transformation initiatives at the federal and at the regional level.

Abstract

This scientific report presents a study conducted by the Research Center for Social and Political Monitoring of the RANEPA Institute for Social Sciences. The relevance of research. Protecting the public health is a priority of state policy. The quality of life of citizens, their labor potential, and the health of future generations depend on the state of health. The pandemic has changed the habitual way of life for the Russians, as it affected their ideas on how to maintain their health, exacerbated the contradiction between the values of a healthy lifestyle and the actual behavior of the citizens. In this regard, it is necessary to constantly diagnose the current situation in the sphere of self-preservation behavior of Russians. The goal of the study is to identify, analyze and evaluate changes in the key behavioral practices of various social and demographic groups of the Russian population aimed at improving the state of health; to assess the priority areas of state policy for the formation of a healthy lifestyle of the population. The object of the study is the behavioral practices of various social and demographic groups of the Russian population related to healthy lifestyles. The main research method is an all-Russian sociological survey based on a sample representing the territorial distribution of the Russian population, the ratio of residents in different types of settlements, as well as the main socio-demographic groups, and comparing the results with the results of earlier surveys. Based on the results of the study, this paper presents an analysis of changes in the main behavioral practices of various social and demographic groups of the Russian population, aimed at improving the state of public health. The study allows us to draw the following conclusions. Despite an increase in the demand for qualified medical care in case of a discomfort or illness, self-treatment remains a common practice. There is still a significant number of citizens who are deprived of necessary medical services and medicines due to a lack of money or the unavailability of suitable medical professionals in their area of residence. Most of the respondents believe that they have a healthy lifestyle, but over the past year, the proportion of citizens with this point of view does not show positive dynamics. Meanwhile, these statements by the respondents tend to differ from the actual behavior practice. Some of them, despite classifying themselves as leading a healthy lifestyle, continue smoking or using alcohol regularly. The scientific novelty of this study lies in the fact that it seeks to obtain up-to-date sociological information about the health condition of citizens in a changing epidemiological and socio-economic situation, the impact of various behavioral practices on their physical and social well-being. Recommendations based on the results of the study are related to the need to adjust management decisions related to promoting a healthy lifestyle of the population based on the findings of the study.