Kudrin unveiled Russia's development program for the seven years ahead. Kudrin unveiled Russia's development program for seven years ahead Science in the era of the digital economy
The Center for Strategic Research (CSR) has launched a website about the country's development strategy for the next six years. At the first stage, the Center publishes seven strategic priorities that will allow Russia to achieve sustainable economic growth and a qualitative improvement in living standards. Later, new materials on the strategy, which includes more than 300 measures, will appear on strategy.csr.ru
Work on the proposals began in April 2016 on behalf of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Members of the Economic Council under the President of Russia, specialists from Moscow State University, Higher School of Economics, RANEPA, RAS and other leading scientific centers, totaling more than 1,700 experts, worked on the action plan. In addition, we involved the citizens themselves, took an interest in their “pain points”, and traveled to the regions. Through research and scientific models, experts calculated what could be achieved for each of the seven priorities.
First priority. Everyone is important
The text of the Strategy emphasizes that the health and education of citizens, poverty reduction are the main conditions for the country's development. The very first and key direction is the priority “Everyone is important”. Here is its full content:
The life and well-being of every Russian is the country’s main wealth. Hence, the most important task is to ensure a decent quality of life and the opportunity for self-realization for every citizen. It is necessary to act in three directions: reduce mortality and increase the duration of a healthy and active life; support every person's right to success by ensuring equal opportunities for relevant education at all ages; reduce poverty.
- In 2024, healthy life expectancy will increase by almost five years.
- Families with children and pensioners will be provided with a decent standard of living.
- Every Russian will be able to receive a modern education and master
- skills needed to succeed in the 21st century.
Key results:
- The full life expectancy of Russians will increase by five years;
- By 2024, the average old-age pension will be twice the minimum subsistence level, pensions will increase by no less than a third in real terms;
- The poverty level in Russia will drop to 10% and will be on par with the most developed countries in Europe. The poverty level among families with children will be reduced by 2 times;
- Everyone will have the opportunity to improve their professional competencies and qualifications.
Healthy life
Everyone will have access to high-quality and high-tech medical services.
- Doctors will be able to monitor the patient’s health condition remotely, and residents of remote areas will be provided with emergency and specialized medical care.
- Patients with chronic diseases will receive personal medical support.
- Drug supply programs will be introduced that will facilitate access to modern complex drugs.
The key to successful treatment is qualified and motivated medical personnel.
- Doctors will have to fill out less paperwork and have more time to spend with patients. Salaries of medical workers will increase significantly, and the quality of specialized education will noticeably improve.
It is better not to treat diseases, but to prevent them. The best means for this is prevention and sports.
- There will be more opportunities for free sports in residential areas.
- A healthy lifestyle will be taught in elementary and middle grades; children will learn how to take a responsible approach to their health.
- A national food quality management system will be created, and the fight against excessive consumption of alcohol and tobacco will be strengthened.
Education for success
Self-realization begins at school. Students will learn the skills necessary for success in life and in any profession in the new economy: working in a team, communicating, creating new things and, most importantly, learning independently.
- Every student will master basic modern literacy: technological, financial, digital, entrepreneurial and legal.
- All children have their own talents and characteristics. Training according to individual programs will allow you to better reveal the capabilities of each student.
- There will be a significant increase in the number of psychology specialists in schools who will help children develop taking into account their needs.
- Universities will have applied bachelor's programs for training in working with high technologies; at least a third of students will study there.
- Universities, research centers and large companies will jointly train students. And in universities and colleges they will teach and help you open and run your own business.
- Throughout their lives, Russians will be able to receive additional professional education and new skills at universities, colleges and other educational centers.
- Programs for updating professional skills will be created for the non-working population, including pensioners, and social service employees will help them find employment.
Social support
Families with incomes below the subsistence level will receive targeted support. They will be able to use maternity capital as a monthly benefit.
- Social workers and employment services will help members of low-income families gain in-demand skills, find work, and get out of difficult life situations.
- A unified database of social support ensures that everyone who really needs help gets it. And that only those who definitely need it receive it.
By living longer and healthier lives, citizens will be able to remain active and relevant longer.
Over the course of 16 years, the retirement age will gradually increase and by 2034 will reach 63 years for women and 65 years for men. This will give everyone, even in adulthood, the opportunity to realize themselves in the profession and receive a higher income.”
Second priority. Land of opportunity
We are convinced that Russians are full of entrepreneurial energy, and we just need to create space for it to translate into new endeavors. Every citizen should have the opportunity to demonstrate social, civic and entrepreneurial initiative, which will not be punished, but encouraged. By 2024, freedom of entrepreneurship will be guaranteed in Russia at a new level and real competition in the economy will be ensured. Living initiative will become the engine of economic development of the country.
Key results:
- The number of Russians planning to open their own business will double;
- Businesses will get rid of excessive government checks by halving the number of control functions;
- By 2030, the share of small and medium-sized businesses will double and create 40% of the country’s GDP;
- The public sector in the economy will be reduced to 25%.
Entrepreneurship support
- Schoolchildren will be able to learn how to open and run their own business in entrepreneurship classes if they wish.
- Both school and university educational programs will be aimed at solving non-standard problems.
- Aspiring young entrepreneurs will receive systematic support from regional and federal authorities.
- The time frame for launching new businesses will be reduced, administrative procedures will be simplified - you can open a business from home or office.
- Entrepreneurs will exchange information with government agencies only in electronic form, using electronic signatures.
- For those who agree to work in the electronic system of the tax service, digital technologies will make it possible to automatically generate reports, the responsibility for the preparation of which will be assigned to the tax office, and the entrepreneur is responsible only for the accuracy of the primary data.
- During the first year of operation, tax holidays will apply to the new business.
- The number of control and supervision functions and bodies will be reduced if the enterprise does not pose a risk of harm to human health.
- With the launch of the reform, a three-year moratorium will be introduced on any legislative changes that could complicate the situation of medium and small businesses.
Competitive economy
State policy will be aimed at partnership with private business and reducing direct government participation in the economy.
- Only private companies will play in competitive markets; state players will not be allowed to enter.
- The state will be obliged to sell a stake in an enterprise in which its presence is not needed - in accordance with the “explain or sell” principle.
- Transparency of government procurement will increase due to the removal of artificial restrictions.
- The growth of small and medium-sized businesses will be stimulated through the development of an effective system of benefits and preferences, crowdfunding systems and separate credit exchanges.
Citizens' initiative
Russian non-profit organizations and volunteers will have the opportunity to work more freely to solve public problems and provide social services.
- Restrictions on foreign funding for social NGOs engaged in socially beneficial activities will be lifted.
- It will become fashionable and profitable for citizens and businesses to be a philanthropist through tax deductions.
- The work of non-profit organizations, as well as their support from the state, will become more transparent.
- There will be more opportunities for NPOs to provide some social services, especially if they can do it cheaper and better than the state.
Third priority. Technological revolution
Russia will not have a chance to become one of the global leaders if its economy does not receive a new engine - advanced technologies. When the Russian economy responds to the challenges of the technological revolution, new and interesting jobs will be created, and enterprises will produce in-demand and successful products that the whole country will be proud of. This is a chance for Russia to become a leader in the newest sectors of the economy and begin to form new directions for scientific and technological development.
By 2024, the latest technologies will make it possible to solve two problems: improve existing production and create new markets and industries where Russia will be competitive. Russian companies will fully participate in global technology markets. The quality of products of state corporations will increase due to increased competition, and they themselves will have to become more transparent and efficient.
Key results:
- Russian scientists will become participants in 40% of advanced global
research related to the new industrial revolution; - Labor productivity will increase by a third;
- Private Russian companies will become active exporters - revenue
The 75 largest of them will amount to 250 billion rubles.
Digital economy
- Key industries will undergo large-scale renewal and become high-tech.
- Metallurgy, mining, mechanical engineering and agriculture will receive new financial incentives and support from development institutions for the successful transition to digital platforms.
- Enterprises, research centers, government regulators and financial institutions will unite into special groups - consortia. It will be easier for such associations to compete in international markets.
- Russian state-owned companies will become more open and flexible, which will increase the efficiency of their work, free up new resources and allow them to compete more successfully in global markets.
- The share of the private sector will also increase. Russia will be able to take part in the struggle for leadership in the most advanced industries - in post-carbon energy, biotechnology, green chemistry, new generation microelectronics, and in the field of personalized medicine.
Digital Entrepreneurship
- It will become easier and more profitable for entrepreneurs in innovative areas to work in Russia.
- New target funds and development institutions will allow venture investors to more actively support breakthrough developments and high-risk research.
- Special formats for the development of innovative business (start-up studios and accelerators) will receive more support from the state.
- High-tech innovative companies will not have problems with bureaucracy.
- State regulation in this area will be both more effective and flexible for market participants.
- Research, discoveries and developments of Russian specialists will be reliably protected by copyright.
- The intellectual property protection system will be based on digital technologies.
Science in the era of the digital economy
- Universities, research centers and laboratories will work closely with business and the government. At the same time, it will become easier to receive money for scientific work, receive grants, and the tax burden will decrease.
- The work of the Russian Academy of Sciences will be organized in a new way, which will help scientists more actively participate in international projects and developments. New specialties related to technological changes will appear.
- Engineering and technical education will be developed in universities.
- The introduction of international standards for research activities and assessment of their effectiveness will help Russian scientists integrate into the global scientific network and take their rightful place there.
Fourth priority. Key positions in the global economy
Living off the sale of raw materials is unreliable, because the country becomes dependent on price fluctuations. When Russia doubles the export of high-tech products, the country’s economy’s resistance to sanctions and future global crises will increase. Due to competition with imported goods, the products of domestic enterprises will become of higher quality and more affordable for Russians.
By 2024, Russia will occupy a place in new promising markets and increase budget revenues through foreign trade. New trade agreements with foreign countries will open up new opportunities for Russian exporting companies. The products of Russian companies will compete in foreign markets, which will lead to an increase in their quality for all citizens of the country.
Key results by 2024:
- Non-resource exports will double: from $107 billion to $200 billion;
- Russia's share in global exports of high-tech goods will double;
- Exports of services will grow from $50.5 in 2016 to $70 billion;
- Food exports will grow by more than 60%.
Russia in open international trade
- Exporters of non-commodity goods will receive new financial and legal support from the state.
- Particular attention will be paid to the export of services: education, healthcare, tourism and logistics.
- Platforms and mechanisms will be created and scaled up to assist exporters, including in the field of e-commerce.
- Customs and export control procedures will become simpler. This will allow Russian companies to enter new promising markets and gain a foothold in them.
Foreign companies, in turn, will find it easier to enter the Russian market: some simplification of customs and tax control is provided for them. This will increase competition in Russia, improve the quality and reduce the price of foreign goods and services.
- Russia will continue to develop profitable trade and economic relations with its neighbors, and will pay special attention to the rapidly developing markets of Asia.
- Infrastructure projects in the field of transport and energy will be implemented in the interests of the countries of the Eurasian Economic Union.
- There will be an increase in scientific and technological cooperation and joint implementation of initiatives in the field of digital economy with European countries.
Fifth priority. State for citizens
The state must exist for its citizens and be, first of all, a partner and assistant who can be trusted in any life situation. The public administration system should be based on this principle, the main goal of which will be to meet the needs of the country's residents.
By 2024, an information platform will appear in Russia, thanks to which most government procedures will be available in electronic form without contacting departments and providing documents. Convenient and accessible government services will increase the level of confidence of the country's residents in the authorities. This requires a built-in feedback system and clear, transparent standards for the work of civil servants.
Key results:
- 40 of the most popular government services for citizens and 30 services for business will be instantly provided in the digital environment;
- citizen satisfaction with the work of civil servants will increase to 80%;
- Damage to human life and health from risky production will be reduced by 50%, while control costs will be reduced.
Strategic management and new personnel
- Civil servants will be able to work for results only if their routine activities and work culture are restructured. To do this, government agencies must clearly formulate the mission and values of their work. The central tenet of these documents should be service to citizens and initiative.
- Civil servants will receive common goals and an understanding of their activities, based on a vision of the future of the country.
- The introduction of new methods and practices will be carried out by a special Center for Public Administration Efficiency.
- Citizens and business representatives will be able to participate in the development of priorities, and Deputy Prime Ministers of the Russian Federation and ministers will be responsible for their implementation.
- Every Russian will be able to track progress in this area.
- Civil servants will receive wages based on an increased base payment and bonuses based on performance. This means that employees will have an incentive to work better, and there will be fewer reasons for corruption.
- Personnel policy in this area will be handled by a single federal center. Appointments, promotions and dismissals of officials will be transparent and understandable to everyone.
Digital State
- Citizens and businesses will have new opportunities to interact with the government in the digital environment, the basis of which will be a unified information platform. Independent service providers will be able to connect to it, and the services and applications they develop will be available to any users.
- Mountains of papers and certificates will gradually become a thing of the past. Electronic data will become a mandatory priority in the work of government agencies throughout the country.
- The speed of decision-making, response to citizens' requests, their validity and transparency will be higher due to the introduction of big data technologies.
Control and supervision
- Control and supervision authorities will be engaged in their immediate business - monitoring the safety of citizens and preventing risks, while allowing organizations to work calmly.
- The introduction of new technologies in control and supervisory activities will make the process more transparent and automate a significant number of procedures, making control remote and effective.
- The main criterion for regulation should be validity and real safety. If regulation does nothing to reduce risks to society, then such measures will be withdrawn. If the risk to society and citizens is minimal, then regulation can be transferred to non-governmental organizations, and the state will focus on preventing real dangers.
Sixth priority. Development of cities and regions
Well-being and quality of life greatly depend on how the space around is arranged. The feeling of comfort in your small homeland makes it possible to build a life trajectory and increases confidence in the future. The social and economic development of regions and cities depends on their level of independence and responsibility to residents.
By 2024, methods of managing cities will be revised and new technologies will be introduced in the field of urban management. A modern living environment will make cities attractive to the most talented and enterprising people and will push the urban economy forward. But moving between populated areas should also be quick and convenient; this is the only way Russians can feel that their home is the whole country.
Key indicators:
- Travel time from the suburbs to the center of a large city will be reduced to one hour;
- The number of deaths in road accidents will be reduced by one and a half times;
- The housing supply will increase from 25 to 30 sq m per person.
Promising city
- Each city will be able to decide for itself what to bet on in its development.
- Citizens will have the opportunity to directly participate in the fate of the city: choose how to spend the city budget and monitor the implementation of work.
- Part of the taxes from the activities of local businesses will go directly to district and city budgets.
- It will become easier to become an entrepreneur in your hometown: special targeted loans and standard solutions will be available to local residents.
- Every entrepreneur will be able, through a special system, to learn about the needs of city residents and better focus on them when running their business.
- New establishments and points of attraction will give impetus to the further development of public spaces.
- There will be more affordable and high-quality housing in cities. There will be apartments specially built for rent, already equipped with furniture and necessary household appliances. If you want to move, you can easily leave your rented apartment and find another one.
- Outdated housing and communal services systems will be modernized.
- The introduction of mechanisms for regulating heat consumption will reduce personal expenses.
- There will no longer be a need to wait decades for major repairs - thanks to special bank loans, management companies will be able to first install elevators, insulate walls and replace pipes and ceilings, and pay the bank later.
Transport accessibility
- Moving around the city will become more convenient and faster. There will be more public transport, including environmentally friendly ones. It will be possible to plan travel time more accurately: digital systems will be able to accurately predict the arrival time of the next route and the time required for the journey.
- A unified transport system for the city and region will make it possible to travel and transport goods faster and more conveniently.
- The ability to travel around the country is an important indicator of its development. Therefore, the quality of road construction will be improved.
- The road from any large city to a neighboring one will take no more than 4 hours, and between smaller settlements you can travel comfortably on comfortable and cheap buses and trains.
- High-speed highways Moscow - Vladimir - Saransk - Ulyanovsk - Samara - Orenburg, St. Petersburg - Vologda - Kirov - Yekaterinburg will be built on key transport routes.
- High-speed trains will run between Moscow and Kazan, Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk, Moscow and Tula.
Seventh priority. Protection and justice
Economic success is impossible and unnecessary if citizens do not feel protected from external and internal threats. It is necessary to restore trust in the law enforcement system and complete the creation of a professional and combat-ready army. Whatever the situation a citizen finds himself in, he always has the right to a fair and truly independent court. And if he makes a mistake and breaks the law, then he gets a second chance.
Key indicators:
- Trust in the police will increase, expressed through the number of complaints from victims;
- The armed forces will be formed 100% on a contract basis;
- After serving their sentences, prisoners will more often return to a full life in society, their resocialization will occur, and, as a result, the level of security in society will increase.
Honest and fair trial
- The personnel composition of judges will change: there will be more judges with diverse experience, and not just from court secretaries, their independence and objectivity will increase: law enforcement officers and court chairmen will no longer be able to influence their appointment.
- Judges will stop rubber-stamping sentences, which will contribute to the humanization of the court and an increase in the number of acquittals.
- A Federal Center for the Training of Judges will appear, where future professionals will be prepared for atypical, more complex and fair decisions.
- The judicial process will become more transparent and faster when modern electronic and digital technologies are used.
- Absolutely every court hearing will be audio recorded, and the minutes will be short and accessible.
Law enforcement
- Electronic document management and simplified reporting will relieve police officers of paperwork.
- Precinct officers will be able to devote more time and effort to fighting crime, prevention, and working with
victims of crimes. - Experiments in creating municipal police will show that cities are able to ensure the safety of citizens more effectively than the federal police.
- Prisons and colonies will be reconfigured to return prisoners to a full life in society.
- To achieve this, the conditions of detention for prisoners will become more humane, and the FSIN will help maintain connections between prisoners and their families and create modern and high-quality jobs. This reduces relapses and helps return people to normal life.
- There will be fewer people incarcerated for minor, nonviolent crimes because they can be punished differently.
- In economic crimes, the priority will be compensation for victims and economic punishment.
- The fight against drug crime will focus on those who actually sell drugs, and not on victims of drug addiction and casual drug users.
Professional army
- Gradually, the number of contract soldiers in the Russian army will increase, which will significantly increase its professionalism and combat readiness - every soldier and officer will be motivated primarily by decent remuneration for their work.
- A full-fledged housing stock will be created for military personnel and their families.
- Expenditures on defense and weapons will be flexibly planned and adjusted every year, which will make it possible to spend less and defend more effectively.
- A clear list of necessary military technologies will appear, and the products of defense production enterprises will be diversified.
Five first steps to seven priorities
First step
Transition to government by priorities: government activities should be aimed at achieving strategic priorities, and day-to-day work should become efficient, invisible to citizens and largely digital. Now we often see how the goals stated by the President and the Government are not fulfilled: partly because the work to achieve them is unfocused, actions aimed at long-term goals are postponed. It is necessary to create a Center for Public Administration Efficiency, which will be aimed at introducing best management practices. This includes the dependence of the salary of each official on the result he achieves, which is understandable to any citizen; the ability of an official to improve his work for the convenience of citizens; making clear decisions.
Second step
Carry out a budget maneuver: the state budget must be reoriented towards human and economic development. It is necessary to significantly increase spending on so-called productive expenses - education, health care and infrastructure. By 2024, state budget expenditures should be redistributed as follows:
- for education - from 3.5% to 4.4% of GDP;
- for healthcare - from 3.1% to 4.0% of GDP;
- for infrastructure - from 2.5% to 3.0% of GDP.
As a result, by 2024 the state will spend almost one and a half times more on these areas than today (in real terms, that is, adjusted for inflation). This will further accelerate economic growth (add up to a percentage of GDP per year to the growth rate), as well as seriously improve the quality of life of citizens.
Third step
Improve management of the public sector of the economy: the public sector accounts for slightly less than half of the country's economy. Not all state-owned companies are effectively managed and successfully solve the tasks assigned to them. The Center for Transformation of State Corporations will help improve management practices in the public sector of the economy; will reduce the costs of producing goods and services provided by these companies and coordinate their work on the transition to the digital economy. As a result, these goods and services will become more competitive on the world market and more accessible to Russians.
Fourth step
Carry out judicial reform: today, entrepreneurs and citizens who have in one way or another encountered the Russian judicial system are not satisfied with its quality. To develop entrepreneurship and protect the rights of all citizens, an independent and fair court is needed. The main step towards such a court is a new quality of judges. They should be people who have a variety of work experience and have undergone special training. Their careers should depend on the judicial community, not on law enforcement agencies.
Fifth step
Making macroeconomic stability work for us: keeping inflation at historically low levels
indicators, achieve low lending rates and a stable tax regime.
Inflation should be maintained at no higher than 4%. Entrepreneurs and citizens will get used to the fact that
Inflation is persistently low, and this will push lending rates down. This way, businesses will have more opportunities for investment, and citizens will have more opportunities to increase their spending. The ruble exchange rate should remain floating. This will reduce risks in the event of external shocks; this is insurance for our economy. It is necessary to ensure the stability of the tax system. We propose to complete the “tax maneuver” in the oil industry. There is no need to increase taxes on citizens.
You can find a detailed description of the Strategy’s priorities at
Strategic Lessons
“What will distinguish the new program from previous strategic documents and why will it turn out better this time?” - this is one of the most popular questions addressed to the Center for Strategic Research today. In fact, this is one of the first questions that I asked myself when the president instructed us to prepare a new strategic document. Before you plunge headlong into work, it’s worth looking at the scale of the task from the outside, assessing the experience of those who tried to solve it before you. One of the tools for drawing the necessary lessons from previous experience was the research we initiated, the results of which you are holding in your hands. In addition to the final conclusions of the team that conducted the research under the leadership of Mikhail Dmitriev, the pages of the report also contain author’s opinions with recommendations for preparing a new strategy from Vadim Volkov, Ivan Bortnik and Viktor Polterovich. I do not share all the conclusions and points of view, but I am glad that this report has already become a platform for discussion at the preparation stage. I would also note that assessing the implementation of Strategy 2020, prepared in 2011 and the focus of analysis, can only be conditional, since it was never approved and is not a direct guide to action, although it played an important role in consolidating proposals.
At the same time, the study did not affect the approved strategic document - the Concept of Long-Term Development until 2020 (LDC). This is due to the fact that formally the main strategic document of the country did not become a real guideline for the government, becoming outdated already at the time of adoption, when the global economic crisis seriously changed external conditions. By the way, the CRA has not yet been abolished. This is an indicative example of our lack of a mechanism for promptly changing top-level strategic documents, although in the rapidly changing modern world the ability to adapt to new conditions is critically important.
In parallel with the CDR, goals and objectives for the administrative system were set through national projects, May decrees, medium-term government programs (main areas of activity and anti-crisis plans) and through more than 40 state programs, the results of which were not the subject of wide discussion. In addition, according to the law, the Strategy for the socio-economic development of the Russian Federation for the long-term period - until 2035 - was supposed to be prepared in 2016, but its delivery was postponed to next year. Such a number of multi-level and multi-format documents obviously makes any planning difficult for authorities.
One of the most important lessons of the 2010 Strategy is the necessity of having an effective mechanism for implementing the document within the executive branch. Let me remind you that in the early 2000s the main task was to create the institutional foundations of a new market economy, and in many ways they were indeed created, but their potential was limited by the archaic administrative system, which was clearly in need of updating. Such a reform was conceived, but its implementation “drowned” in the growing flow of petrodollars: the need for this and other socio-economic reforms decreased the faster the larger the state budget grew. And already the crisis of 2008-2009 showed that our economic growth was based on an extremely unstable foundation.
Therefore, the key task of Strategy 2020 was to form a holistic view of how our country can move to a non-resource-based economic model. However, the Strategy never turned into a normative document, a government work plan, remaining, in fact, a “declaration of intent.” This was largely due to the lack of involvement of government officials - those who were supposed to implement it - in the development process. This lesson can be considered learned: heads of ministries and heads of regions actively participate in the activities of the Center for Social Development and the working group of the Economic Council under the President, which I head.
Another omission of Strategy 2020 is its excessive focus on the economic agenda, partly to the detriment of non-economic institutions. Thus, obviously not enough attention was paid to the judicial system - in our opinion, the most important for the implementation of any development program. Therefore, the CSR devotes a whole area to developing proposals for improving these institutions.
Today we are also confident that the very perception and successful implementation of a strategy depends on how flexibly and quickly the solutions contained in it can be adapted to the changing conditions of the modern world, social, economic and technological trends. The Strategy being developed by the Center will consist of three main parts: firstly, a conceptual, general vision of the future, a trajectory towards the goal, secondly, priority, tough decisions, without the accurate and rapid implementation of which any other changes will be useless, and, in -third, selective programs - responsibility for their deeper development and final implementation will be assigned to different levels of government. The last component will have maximum flexibility and take into account problems in specific sectors of the economy, resources and capabilities of the regions, and the current agenda.
A thorough analysis and consideration of the strengths and weaknesses of the work of our predecessors will be an important factor in creating the Russian Development Strategy for 2018–2024. and will help in joint work with the government on Strategy 2035.
The full text of the report can be found at the following link:
The article by the Chairman of the Government of the Russian Federation D. A. Medvedev “Russia-2024: Strategy for Socio-Economic Development” was published in the journal “Economy Issues” No. 10 for 2018 (p. 528). Revealing and analyzing the objectives of Russia's economic policy for 2018-2024, the author proposes a trajectory for breakthrough scientific, technological and socio-economic development of Russia to ensure sustainable growth in the well-being and competitiveness of each individual, society and the state as a whole.
According to D. A. Medvedev, the Government of the Russian Federation managed to prevent the development of a macroeconomic crisis and mitigate acute financial problems, preventing a critical increase in debt dependence. The priority areas of structural reforms are currently the development of human capital, primarily education and healthcare, infrastructure, as well as the improvement of public administration. A special place is occupied by national projects related to strengthening the competitiveness of the economy, designed to help achieve positive results in the areas of labor productivity and employment support, science, digital economy, small and medium-sized businesses, international cooperation and exports, which should ensure the acceleration of technological development and contribute to the creation of highly productive export-oriented sector and infrastructure development.
The work raised the topics of school education, adult education and the need to redistribute the shares of public and private financing of research and development costs in favor of the latter, as well as such issues in the field of medicine and healthcare as the personalization of healthcare, telemedicine, accessibility of primary health care assistance, etc. Overcoming the existing level of poverty is one of the priority areas of Russian state policy, where it is necessary to ensure that social assistance is targeted to the population. Key factors in the growth of labor productivity include technological modernization and digitalization of the economy, where, among others, for example, there is the task of bridging the gap between the country’s most developed companies in the field of digitalization and the rest, a very significant part of the business.
As for the export activities of the state, the author of the article noted that Russia will not create barriers to international economic relations, will strive to liberalize foreign trade, increase exports of services, and non-resource exports should become an indicator of the success of import substitution. In addition, solving the problems facing the country presupposes the existence of an effective fiscal policy, the measures of which must be systemic in nature and combine the solution of fiscal, economic (stimulating business activity) and social problems.
The country must know its strategists from the era of developed Putinism. We mean the Kudrin Center for Strategic Research and its recently presented “Country Development Strategy 2018–2024,” which claims to be an expert formulation of the tasks of Putin’s new presidential term.
However, we invite readers to form their own opinion about the intellectual power of this document and try to find ways there to realize the true national interests of our Fatherland.
INTRODUCTION
Over the past centuries, we have won many victories, but the main ones were achieved by the power of our intellect and the uniqueness of our creative potential. Intelligence and talent are the main engines of the country's development and the well-being of its people.
In recent years, we have been living worse than we could, and we are lagging behind in terms of quality of life. Our economy is growing slower than it could. The potential of the country and its inhabitants is not fully realized. We can do better.
For this, the country needs clear goals and a development strategy. If we draw up an action plan and strictly adhere to it, then we can make up for a lot and achieve a serious improvement in the quality of life, which will be ensured by the growth of a renewed economy. Therefore, over the next six years, we propose to identify seven main priorities for ourselves and take action.
Why are we falling behind? We are not investing enough in the country's main wealth - people. The health and education of citizens, poverty reduction are the main conditions for development. The creative initiative of people who see and seize new opportunities is the basis for future growth. High-quality education and medicine, unlimited opportunities for entrepreneurship and personal initiative should become the basic realized rights of every citizen of the country. Hence the first two priorities of the proposed strategy - “Everyone is important” and “Land of opportunity”.
What kind of economy do we need? By 2024, we must become an attractive country for every person who is ready and willing to work. By revealing new opportunities for the country's citizens, supporting their initiatives in all areas, including business and comfortable and social activities, we will be able to move to a new quality of the Russian economy. It will become modern and technologically advanced and will be able to compete on equal terms with the most developed countries of the world. The following two priorities of our strategy are addressed to this - “Technological revolution” and “Key positions in the global economy”.
How to succeed? It is necessary to rethink the role and mechanisms of public administration. The state is only as effective as it is useful and convenient for its citizens and is friendly towards them. It should not manage everything directly, but only ensure fair rules of the game for everyone. Do not dictate, but insure against mistakes and abuses. Do not squeeze resources from some areas and regions to others, but wisely and carefully redistribute funds based on common goals. Do not punish based on the letter of the numerous instructions that bind citizens hand and foot, but judge fairly on the merits. Therefore, three whole priorities of our strategy are devoted to the task of transforming the state machine from archaic to advanced: “State for citizens”, “Development of cities and regions”, “Protection and justice”.
Over the past decades, strategies have been developed that have not achieved the desired results. Therefore, the distrust with which such plans are viewed is understandable. “We’ve already seen it all,” “they want to deceive us again,” “life doesn’t change for the better because of your strategies” - this is what people say when they hear about some next grandiose plan.