The relationship between life satisfaction and the number of children in the family

Aim. The work aimed to assess the impact of the number of children in the family on life satisfaction of the Russian population over the past decade using econometric analysis methods.

 Objectives. The work seeks to analyze the demographic situation in Russia over the past decade based on statistical data; review the reasons for changes and current trends in this field, and to make forecasts of population dynamics. It also seeks to study the key measures of socioeconomic and demographic policy of the state, as well as their impact on the birth rate situation in the country; to analyze early theoretical views and modern studies focusing the problems of economic development of countries and fertility, as well as the works of Russian authors, which discuss the causes of the birth rate decline in Russia.

Methods. The study used the RLMS-HSE (Russia Longitudinal Monitoring Survey — Higher School of Economics) data for the period from 2007 to 2023 to analyze the relationship between the quality of life of the population and the number of children in the family, since it was with this period that the beginning of an active state stimulating demographic policy was associated. A binary model of panel ordered choice (Ordered probit model) was used to construct the models.

Results. Based on the studied literature and statistical data, the current demographic situation in modern Russian realities was analyzed. Measures of state socio-economic support to stimulate the birth rate were reviewed. The key factors contributing to the birth rate decline in Russia were identified. Econometric analysis revealed a relationship between life satisfaction and the number of children in the family. The article results can be used in new studies on this subject and in the creation of state demographic policy.

Conclusions. The ordered selection model was used in the econometric analysis of panel data for federal districts. The results obtained were used to conclude that having at least one child is associated in most federal districts with a decrease in life satisfaction of the population. This indicates a difficult situation for families with children and the need to implement additional measures of socio-economic support for people with children. An increase in the quality of life of the population is associated with an increase in income and good health. 

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