Income Security in Transition for the Aged and Children in the Soviet Union and in the Russian Federation
Author(s)
Liu, Lillian
Abstract
Transforming a centrally planned economic system into one based on market forces calls for the restructuring of economic institutions, the privatization of a vast number of State enterprises, and the decontrol of prices and wages. In the short term, such changes have exacerbated the difficulties faced by former Communist countries, the Soviet Union included, in meeting social needs in a market-based economy. This article examines the transition of the social security system in the Soviet Union during the Gorbachev years (1985-91) and in the Russian Federation during 1992. The discussion is presented in six parts: First, the Soviet social security system prior to 1985 on the eve of Gorbachev’s reforms; second, a summary analysis of social security reforms during 1985-90, and the four objectives of these reforms; third, the implementation of new social security programs under political and economic restructuring during 1991; fourth, the impact on social security programs of the collapse of the Union Government; fifth, social security developments under radical economic reform in the Russian Federation during 1992; and sixth, remaining issues regarding income security programs for the aged and children.
