The Russians called the priorities of state spending in a crisis

In 2020, there are more supporters of increasing budget spending on healthcare, education, pensions and the environment in Russia, according to a study by the Higher School of Economics (HSE).

As part of the study, at the end of 2020, 6 thousand residents of the country from 15 to 72 years old from 59 regions were interviewed. 65% of respondents indicated that the state should increase spending on the development of hospitals, as well as increase the salaries of medical staff. In 2018, when a previous similar survey was conducted, only 52% of people prioritized spending in this area. At the same time, according to the survey participants, it is necessary to increase spending, first of all, on the prevention of diseases, as well as on increasing the number of medical specialists and improving their qualifications.

The number of supporters of large public spending on education (development of schools and kindergartens, increase in salaries for educators) has grown in approximately the same way - now there are 54% of such respondents against 43% in 2018. The number of those who believe that the state should spend more on pensions has grown (45% against 41% two years earlier). Supporters of the growth of government spending on the environment also became more - 41% against 34% according to the results of the last survey. The top 5 priorities for the growth of government spending also included spending on social benefits (38% of respondents indicated the need to spend more budget funds in this area). The "People's Budget" this year is clearly "pandemic in nature," the authors of the study emphasize.

The development of medicine is not only the number one priority for budget spending, according to Russians, but also the area for the development of which the largest number of people are willing to pay more taxes. More than a third of respondents (34%) are ready to pay additional taxes and fees in the amount of 2% of their income for improving the quality of medical care. Also, a significant number of Russians are ready to support with taxes social assistance to poor and lonely elderly people and improving the quality of school education (24 and 21%, respectively).

In 2020, the construction of roads and housing, as well as defense, faded into the background for the inhabitants of Russia. If in 2018 road construction was number two on the list of priorities of Russians in terms of increasing budget spending (46% of respondents spoke about this), now only 37% of such respondents are. Growth in state spending on housing construction is expected by 27% (two years earlier - 32%). Those who consider it a priority to increase spending on the country's security have halved - 15% versus 29%, the number of supporters of increasing spending on the armed forces has decreased from 17 to 8%. Now there are significantly fewer of them than those who support the creation of new jobs (27% of respondents named this priority). 40% of respondents do not agree to additional tax deductions for any purpose.