Main goals of state social policy. Social policy of the state

03.08.2019

Social policy is the activity of the state and other economic entities aimed at providing conditions for meeting the needs and improving the well-being of the population, creating a system of social guarantees.

Social policy is carried out at various levels:

Global support for business and charitable organizations;

Macroregional and national policy;

Interrealization of interstate social policy.

The object of social policy is the entire amateur population, social communities and individual citizens, united by specific connections and relationships. The subjects of social policy are state authorities, organizations and institutions, as well as non-governmental public organizations and citizen associations operating in the social sphere.

Social policy is carried out in the main areas of social relations in the following directions:

wages and labor protection;

labor market, employment and unemployment;

regulation of income and consumption of consumer goods;

pension provision;

social welfare and provision of targeted social assistance;

social insurance;

social services - provision of housing, utilities and personal services;

education and professional training, retraining and advanced training;

healthcare;

culture;

physical culture, sports and tourism;

demography, family, motherhood, fatherhood, childhood and youth;

environmental safety, protection from natural and man-made accidents and disasters;

protection of social rights of all categories of citizens

Thus, the most important goal of social policy is to ensure that members of society more fully satisfy their vital needs. Social policy embodies the concern of society for its members who need support and assistance. In this case, the existing financial and economic potential is used. Such assistance, in general, can be called social assistance. It follows that social policy is designed to ensure the satisfaction of the vital needs of not all people, but only those who, due to objective circumstances, cannot provide them on their own. In relation to able-bodied people, the role of social policy is to create favorable conditions for people to solve their problems. Social policy has a regulatory impact on many problems, including those related to wages.

Social policy goals:

Ensuring a certain level of consumption;

Neutralization of the negative consequences of a market economy;

Providing favorable living and working conditions for the entire population.

Subjects of social policy: State, Subjects of the Federation, Local governments, Extra-budgetary social funds, Trade unions and other public organizations, Political parties.

20) The system of social standards as the basis of the social policy of the social state (based on an analysis of trends in Russia and foreign experience).

There are two approaches to establishing state social standards, according to which state social standards are divided into two groups. The first is standards aimed at ensuring minimum social guarantees. These include:

– subsistence level of various categories of the population;

– minimum wage;

– the rate of the first category of the unified tariff schedule;

– minimum pension amount;

– minimum values of a number of social benefits;

– standards for providing free educational and medical services;

– standards for social services for the disabled, the elderly, children without parental care, and other categories of the population.

The second group includes “rational” or average standards, which are indicators of the actual social situation and norms of social well-being. This group of standards includes, for example:

- average salary;

– average pension size;

– average provision of housing;

– average per capita income;

– average values of quality of life indicators.

In contrast to the standards of the first group, the standards of the second group, as a rule, are not norms, but act precisely as indicators of the level of satisfaction of social needs.

The system of social standards includes:

state social standards that determine the degree of state participation in the implementation of social rights of Russian citizens;

social standards provided by financial, organizational, information and other resources of business structures;

social standards implemented at the expense of the citizen’s own funds and capabilities.

The subsistence minimum policy is characteristic not only of developing countries and countries with economies in transition, but is also characteristic of developed countries - minimum guaranteed income (MGI) in France and welfare (state benefit providing a minimum subsistence level) in the USA. MHD is a right because it can be interpreted as the institutionalization of a special kind of social duty. Society cannot allow the death of a disabled person due to the fact that he has no means of subsistence. In France, a system of minimum guaranteed income has existed since 1988. In the United States, welfare is still a universal form of social assistance.

Minimum social standards in content are the starting point for social policy. Their economic state support is not questioned, and the role of the social state is reduced to reducing the number of people with income below the subsistence level.

It is obvious that carrying out reforms in this situation has its own characteristics, which are all the more important for countries with economies in transition, since the old mechanisms have been destroyed to a certain extent, and new ones have not yet been created. In conditions of mass poverty, the main task of the state becomes to prevent the presence of a category of people who are beyond survival, and to create conditions for improving the standard of living of the entire population. It is the standard of living that becomes an integral standard in conditions of a socio-economic crisis.

The fact that average standards of living and, above all, average per capita income are the basis of the policy of a social state is evidenced by the experience of the last decade of most developed countries, which, after abandoning the model of a welfare society, everywhere attempted to reorient social policy from minimum social standards to standards of an acceptable standard of living.

“Prosperous” states, being unable to ensure general prosperity through state charity, changed social policy towards abandoning minimum social standards and replacing them with norms that stimulate individual activity and responsibility, eliminating dependency. Since the 80s of the XX century. there is an intensive replacement of the principle of distributive justice with the principles of commutative justice. This trend was most clearly manifested in the United States in the desire to replace welfare with workfare (assistance through the provision of work).

In other words, minimum social standards begin to play the role of technical indicators, and acceptable standards of living, ensured by the active activity of the individual, become standards. Or, according to a well-known analogy, the social state fights not to ensure that there are no poor people, but to ensure that everyone is rich.

The presence of a significant part of the population below the poverty line indicates not only economic decline, but also that the mechanisms for redistributing social wealth in the country are ineffective. A striking argument for the inadequacy of the mechanisms of social redistribution in the Russian Federation is the data below on the differentiation of income between the groups of the poorest and richest 10% (Tables 3, 4), which provides data on the range of inequality by 11 times!

One of the most commonly used indicators of income differentiation is decile (or stock) coefficient, expressing the relationship between the average income of the 10% of the highest income citizens and the average income of the 10% of the least wealthy.

To characterize the distribution of total income between population groups, the population income concentration index is used (Gini coefficient). The higher this coefficient, the stronger the inequality, i.e. the higher the degree of differentiation of society by income level. When incomes in society are equalized, this indicator tends to zero.

World theory and practice have developed extremely critical values for individual indicators of income differentiation. Thus, the decile coefficient should not exceed 10, otherwise there is a sharp contrast between people in terms of property and social status. As can be seen from this table, the degree of income differentiation in the Russian Federation today has exceeded these extremely critical values.

Under these conditions, the state’s desire to ensure the achievement of minimum standards of living through a system of social support is obviously doomed to failure, since it requires institutional political and economic transformations. There is no reason to hope that in conditions of an economic crisis the state is able to take on additional social obligations and new social functions, characteristic of a developed social state.

The main goals of the state's social policy. Directions of society development policy. Classification of social policy models of leading Western European countries. Formation of the term "Swedish model", the essence of the German system of economic policy.

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Social policy of the welfare state: main goals and methods of their implementation (using the example of developed countries)

Introduction

Any reform, be it economic, political or social transformation, should result in an improvement in the well-being of people, since it is initially sanctioned by them based on hopes for the future. As you know, the fate of millions of pensioners, disabled people and all other groups of the population, whose income depends on the size of pensions, benefits and scholarships, is decided at the state level.

Problems of social relations, the development of social policy and mechanisms for its implementation have been the subject of study in economic science for quite a long time. They are studied primarily in the context of analyzing general, fundamental issues of improving the economic mechanism and the entire economic management system.

Currently, the issue of social policy is acute in many countries; in Russia, in an era of change and transformation, it is especially relevant...

1. Main goals of social policy

Social policy is aimed at social equalization, reducing social gaps in income and the availability of social benefits. The main content of the state's social activities lies in the targeted redistribution of income, mainly through taxation and the system of social transfers, and the provision of social services. Social protection guaranteed by the state is characterized by universality and accessibility. The principle of universality presupposes the right of all citizens to enjoy the benefits of the national system of social services and social protection.

The main objectives of social policy are:

1.Increasing wages for those employed in the public sector (social sphere, management, army, etc.);

2. An increase in wages based on stimulating the business activity of domestic commodity producers, especially in agriculture;

3. Gradual legalization of the activities of the shadow economy and redistribution of part of the income of those employed in it in favor of the wider population of the country.

4.Improving the living conditions of pensioners, primarily by increasing minimum pensions;

5.Increasing benefits for persons with children under working age, especially large families;

6. Reform of the tax system in order to redistribute the tax burden from low-income to high-income groups;

7. Preservation of free or preferential services to the general population by social and welfare institutions.

Fulfillment of the assigned tasks will make it possible to create in Russia a system of distribution relations that meets the requirements of a socially oriented economy. The state needs to create conditions for sufficient satisfaction of the most significant needs of the entire population. First of all, this is the maintenance of a widely developed social infrastructure, which includes secondary and higher education, healthcare, culture and other sectors of intangible production and services. In a socially oriented economy, the state must, with the help of taxes, redistribute the personal income of citizens - from the richest to the poor and low-income residents of the country. Thanks to this redistribution, the state provides a means of subsistence to those whom the market economy abandons to their fate (disabled people, large families, homeless people, etc.).

Also, in a socially oriented economy, a social support arises civil society to the so-called middle class(based on the level of income received). In many highly developed countries, citizens (families) are divided into three main classes: a) rich class - 10 - 15%, b) middle class - 70 - 80% and c) poor class - 15 - 20%. In this case, the greatest social stability of society is ensured. We must agree with the statement that “the middle class plays a special role in society. Figuratively, it can be likened to the function of the spine in the human body, thanks to which the body maintains balance and stability. Where there is no middle class or where it has not yet formed, society is not stable.” In countries with developed economies, a fairly significant part of the middle class consists of workers in such fields as education, science, medicine, law, etc. In Russia, the level of income and consumption of this group of the population does not correspond to ideas about a decent existence and social justice. That is why one of the main tasks is to increase the wages of workers employed in the above-mentioned industries.

The social policy of the state in a socially oriented market economy is designed to partially mitigate social tensions that are inevitable during radical economic changes, thereby facilitating the implementation of liberal reforms economic and political structures.

The state’s activities to ensure relative social justice are carried out in the following directions:

Helping the disadvantaged, the poorest and those unable to provide for themselves financially and combating poverty as a pressing social problem.

Material support for temporarily unemployed citizens and assistance in finding a job, improving their professional level and retraining, ensuring, if possible, full employment of the working population.

Payment of child benefits, payment of maternity leave and sick leave.

Creation whole system social protection of all citizens based on a more equitable distribution of national income.

Organization of health insurance for citizens and financing of universal free healthcare.

Creation state system pension provision in combination with the activities of private pension funds.

Solution social problems in the housing and communal services sector.

State guarantee of savings of the population in private banks, pension funds and insurance companies.

When implementing certain areas of social policy, the state faces many problems. With the establishment of a market economy in our country, serious contradictions related to the free distribution of some goods and services from public consumption funds are being overcome. Along with undeniable achievements, such a distribution also produces negative side effects. A unified set of free goods to a certain extent deprives a person of free choice, and the entire society - of diversity. The level of consumption of goods does not depend on individual and collective results of labor. A person is deprived of the opportunity to influence the quality of care in medical and other institutions.

In this regard, the formation of a qualitatively new model of the state’s social policy seems to be one of the key tasks of economic and political stabilization. Social policy is designed to minimize the social costs of deep economic reforms, facilitate the population’s adaptation to market conditions, and provide them with opportunities for normal existence and development.

In Russia, the lag in the development of the social sphere, the underestimation of the entire complex of social problems, and the low effectiveness of social policy have negatively affected both the financial situation of the population, political stability, and the process of economic transformation. In carrying out the task of creating a qualitatively new model of social policy, it is necessary to pay attention to the existing world experience in solving social problems in countries with different states of the market economy and different levels life of the population. It is necessary to analyze the successes and problems in the implementation of certain social policy objectives in countries with developed market economies.

3. Classification of models of social policy in Western European countries

In economically developed countries, the social system consists of three structure-forming components: political democracy, a regulated market economy and a state system of social protection of the population, which essentially boils down to providing a minimum level of income and social services.

IN Western Europe formed European Union, which was one of the first to include highly developed countries. One of distinctive features The European Union is a unified social policy developed at the international level. The Common European Social Policy focuses mainly on issues related to the health care system, ensuring equality between men and women in the labor market and disability. One of the first fundamental documents was the Social Charter of the EEC. The European Social Charter is a convention of the Council of Europe that enshrines a number of social human rights. Adopted in 1961, came into force in 1965. , adopted in 1961 in Turin, which enshrines basic human rights in the economic and social fields: the right to work, the right to fair working conditions, the right to decent earnings, etc.

Certain aspects of European social policy were developed throughout the existence of the European Economic Union and were enshrined in the founding documents.

Today, the social policy of the European Union includes many areas and exists within the framework of the updated Lisbon strategy. One of its areas is employment. The focus is on specific measures that national governments should take to stimulate employment. The next direction is social care. Social security systems in EU member countries have reached a high level of development. The formation of the social security system is the responsibility of national governments. The role of the European Union is to guarantee that Europeans, when staying in the territory of any EU country, have the opportunity to receive no less social support than at home.

An important aspect of social policy in the European Union is the care of people who are deprived or partially deprived of their ability to work. The European Commission has developed a Disability Action Plan aimed at ensuring equal social and economic opportunities for people who are disabled or partially disabled.

Another area is equality and the fight against various types of discrimination. It is one of the priority areas of social policy of the European Union and includes:

Combating gender discrimination. At the legislative level, women's right to earn no less than men is enshrined;

Combating age discrimination. Providing older people with a decent income, improving health care and care systems for the elderly, as well as stimulating employment among older people;

Combating income discrimination. The European Union provides advisory and material support in matters of combating poverty, supporting children, homeless people, etc.

In general, within the framework of a unified European social policy, only the main directions of development of national social systems are determined. But aspects of national social policy, as well as the determination of specific measures and amounts of support, are the responsibility of national governments. Therefore, it can be argued that within the framework of the European Union, a mechanism for implementing social policy has been formed and continues to be improved, based on separate and self-sufficient social models.

The state system of social protection of the population received the conventional name of the welfare state or social state.

According to the classification of social policy by the Swedish researcher G. Therborn, Göran Therborn is a professor of sociology at Upplas University, director of the Swedish College of Contemporary Research in social sciences. Based on two criteria - the level of social obligations of the state and the degree of their orientation towards the labor market and “full” employment, four categories of social policy in Western Europe are distinguished:

The first is “strong” (according to the degree of direct government regulation social sphere) interventionist. Social policy all segments of the population are covered to varying degrees, with a strong commitment to “full employment”. Its content is not only compensatory, but also constructive. According to G. Therborn, such a policy was carried out in Sweden, Norway, and Austria.

The second is a “soft” welfare state. The predominantly compensatory content of social policy. Social obligations of the state, especially in relation to material support for the poor, with a low commitment to “full” employment. According to G. Therborn, such a policy was carried out in Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

The third is small-scale welfare state expenditures aimed at maintaining “full” employment. According to G. Therborn, such a policy is typical for Switzerland.

The fourth is social policy, market-oriented in content. Limited role of the welfare state system and relatively narrow limits of social rights of citizens. Low commitment to “full” employment. According to Therborn, such policies are common in Great Britain and Ireland.

There are several methods for classifying the social policies of European countries. We can also highlight this division into two models - the Continental or Rhine model and the Anglo-American (Anglo-Saxon) model of social policy.

The Anglo-American model is distinguished by liberal approaches to the problems of poverty and inequality, i.e. inequality is seen as an incentive to maintain competition, which acts for the benefit of the whole society, and poverty is seen as a problem not so much of the state as of morality and mercy and belongs to the sphere of charity. Assistance from the state is provided only in extreme cases, while cash payments are aimed primarily at supporting people of working age. The social assistance system is aimed at encouraging the unemployed to be active in finding work. The labor market is characterized by weak trade unions, fairly strong wage differentiation and a significant proportion of workers receiving low salary. According to researchers, this model of social policy is typical for Great Britain and Ireland.

In the Continental Model, the state redistributes most of the GDP, its intervention is aimed at ensuring equal conditions of competition and fulfilling social tasks. The level of social protection is high, the tax system ensures relative equalization of income, and society's responsibility to care for the poor is recognized.

Particular attention is paid to building social protection on a professional-corporate basis. The logic of the social insurance system “according to Bismarck” is that the amount of payments received directly depends on the amount of contributions paid by the worker. Persons without social insurance can only rely on social assistance benefits (means tested), which are financed from the state budget. Despite the decline in the number of trade unions in countries representing the continental model, their role in collective bargaining policy remains very significant.

The features of this model of social policy are visible to a greater or lesser extent in many European countries. The main directions of this social model can be seen in countries such as Germany and Sweden.

3.1 Germany

In Germany, "Social Market Economy" is the official economic doctrine. The essence of this economic order is defined as the combination of a free competitive market with social justice. In this model, the free market is in first place, and only in second place is social justice or social equalization. The state guarantees the possibility of exercising personal freedom through state legal regulation, redistribution and control over public wealth and social influence haves.

The conceptual basis of the “social market economy” is ordoliberal theories developed by scientists of the Freiburg School led by Walter Euken and Franz Böhm, as well as the neoliberal theories of Wilhelm Röpke, Alexander Rüstow and Alfred Müller-Armack.

The main features of this model are defined as follows: the rule of law ensures the economic freedom of enterprises, consumers and workers, maintains conditions for competition, and performs economic functions within the framework of market conditions, structural and social policies.

In Germany, the state actively influences the formation of the business environment and thereby influences the business structure, uses a combination of methods of financial and antimonopoly regulation, and provides assistance to small and medium-sized businesses. At the same time, one can note such a drawback - social justice, equalization of living conditions, characteristic of the social market economy model, reduce the tendency towards independence. Advanced system social security and protection instills stability and guarantees, and therefore working for hire is more attractive for most Germans than starting their own business. However, in the German economic system, small and medium-sized enterprises (with up to 500 employees and a turnover of up to 50 million euros) clearly predominate quantitatively. Extensive and sustainable small and medium-sized businesses are the main condition for competition, and therefore for maintaining the efficiency of the social market economy.

Today, the social security system includes many areas and measures: family support, support for the unemployed and stimulation of employment, care for the elderly, health insurance and accident insurance, etc.

Employment promotion policies in Germany are implemented through the Federal Labor Agency. As the main measures to achieve its goals, the Agency uses various consultations, coordination of employers and candidates, psychological assistance, selection of vacancies and various trainings, advanced training and retraining courses.

When paying compensation for loss of income for the unemployed in Germany, several rules apply. Only those who have had a job in the previous two years and paid unemployment insurance contributions - 3.5% of earnings before taxes - are eligible for unemployment benefits. Throughout the benefit period, the Labor Agency pays health and pension insurance contributions for the unemployed. The unemployment benefit payment period ranges from 6 to 32 months.

The main difference between social unemployment assistance and unemployment benefits is that benefits are paid from insurance funds, while assistance is financed from the state budget.

Particular attention should be paid to family support in Germany. Family support policies are pursued in several directions. First of all, this is the payment of so-called “children's money”. Currently, one of the parents has the right to benefit for 25 years of the child’s life. The benefit amount is up to 8,000 euros per year. This benefit is deducted from the parents' taxable income. Families with children are paid a “child allowance” for the purchase of real estate - 700 euros per year until the child reaches eight years of age. Single parents have the right to receive benefits for upbringing, as well as the right to receive financial compensation to provide their child with decent maintenance. Parents also have the right to compensation for income lost during the birth of a child and caring for him. The so-called “parental money” covers 67% of a person’s previous income. Additionally, benefits for the birth of a child are provided.

Another area of social policy is the health care system. Existing today in Germany, it is considered one of the best in the world in terms of the quality of medical care and medicines. German healthcare is based on insurance funds, primarily state ones. Contributions to state health insurance funds are paid by working citizens or by the Labor Agency for the unemployed on a monthly basis. State health insurance provides a wide range of medical services, such as diagnosis and prevention of diseases, outpatient and inpatient treatment, as well as the provision of medications and auxiliary equipment. The insured's contributions also provide insurance for non-working members of his family, and the amount of payments does not depend on the number of children in the insured's family.

The pension system in Germany can also be called clearly developed and fulfills its main goal - ensuring a decent standard of living for older people. This system includes four components:

1) compulsory pension insurance of workers and employees;

2) old age pensions from enterprises;

3) private pension insurance on a voluntary basis;

4) the institution of social pensions and benefits provided on the basis of a means test.

Based on the above areas and mechanisms for the implementation of social programs, we can conclude that there is a large amount of government spending in Germany, and a correspondingly large tax burden on enterprises and citizens. Naturally, this cannot but affect general condition economy, and even cause such negative consequences as a decrease in business activity, a reduction in production, etc.

3.2 Sweden

The term “Swedish model” arose in the late 60s, when Sweden began to note the successful combination of rapid economic growth with an extensive reform policy against the backdrop of a relative social conflict-free society.

The Swedish model is defined through the peculiarities of the country's economic policy, which has two dominant goals: full employment and income equalization. Active policies in a highly developed labor market and an exceptionally large public sector engaged in the accumulation and redistribution of significant funds for social and economic purposes are considered as results of these policies.

In the Swedish model, the state does not interfere in the production activities of firms, and active labor market policies should minimize the social costs of a market economy. The maximum growth in production in the private sector and the very broad redistribution by the state of part of the profits through the tax system and the public sector ensured an increase in the standard of living of the population, but without affecting the fundamentals of production.

The standard of living in Sweden is considered one of the highest in the world and the highest in Europe. The standard of living is determined by the complex various indicators. In terms of GDP and consumption per capita, Sweden ranks among the first in Europe. In terms of income equalization, Sweden is ahead of all other countries in the world. The wage ratio between women and men in Sweden is the highest in the world.

Labor market policies are a characteristic feature of the Swedish model. Labor market policy is understood as a set of measures carried out by a network of special government agencies in order to maintain employment, increase labor mobility, create new jobs, as well as measures to increase people’s opportunities to get and keep jobs. In addition to these active assistance measures, there is also the payment of benefits to the unemployed.

There are certain achievements in long struggle for equality. Full employment is itself an important equalizer: a full-employment society avoids differences in income and living standards resulting from mass unemployment, since long-term unemployment leads to income losses. Income and living standards in Swedish society are equalized in two ways. The government uses progressive taxation and a system of extensive public services.

Social insurance is a core element of Swedish welfare policy. The purpose of the social security system in Sweden is to provide economic protection in case of illness, medical care, childbirth and old age (universal insurance), in connection with accidents and illnesses due to work (work accident insurance) and unemployment (unemployment insurance and labor market cash assistance). The final guarantee, regardless of the reason for the application, is a cash benefit known as insurance assistance.

The health insurance system is, first of all, a tool for creating greater socio-economic equality. It enables low-income people in need of health care to receive health care services on an equal basis with others. Moreover, the insurance system functions as a financial and government instrument. The Social Security system is financed by state and local taxes, business, labor, and self-employed taxes, interest income, and capital deductions from various funds. The main source (over 40%) is contributions from entrepreneurs, calculated from the wage fund. The distribution of funds is carried out through the Social Security Offices.

Sweden, a welfare state, has expanded its public sector to a size that makes the country unique in this area: 1/3 of the population is employed in the public sector, which is reflected in exceptionally high tax rates. Total government spending, including both public sector costs and transfer payments, amounts to over 60% of Sweden's GDP, placing it first in the world.

Today, in the context of European integration and world globalization, the wave of the global financial crisis, Sweden could not remain aloof from the ongoing processes. Now the Swedish government is interested in maintaining the specific features of the Swedish model. Maintaining in the future the two main goals of the Swedish model - full employment and equality - requires new methods that must now be adapted to market conditions.

Conclusion

Based on the above, the following conclusions can be drawn: regulation of social differentiation is one of the most difficult problems social management in modern society. Of course, there is nothing wrong with the rapid growth of incomes of certain segments of society, but economic transformations should be beneficial to all social actors and contain the implementation common interests. The presence of a well-thought-out social policy of the state allows one to avoid many social problems caused by economic reforms in the country.

Therefore, we can designate it this way main task social state - to ensure stability in the country and social protection of citizens. Its purpose is to build its policy taking into account the interests of all, without exception, social strata and groups that make up modern society, as well as to create conditions for the reproduction of a workforce that meets new requirements and is capable of providing the necessary material base for the country. Every citizen should feel under the legal protection of the state. Not only the poor, but also quite prosperous groups of the population - the so-called “middle class”, should feel concern on his part, especially since the role of the latter in the economic development of the country is decisive.

Only with the support and trust of society can the state successfully implement its policies, both economic and social, and have the right to be called a social state. The social state stands on three pillars: social justice, social responsibility and social partnership. The introduction of these ideas and their implementation largely depend on the presence of civil society in the country and its level of development. Social responsibility state is the development and implementation of social legislation that ensures reliable social protection of citizens.

Implementation of programs in the main areas of social policy - development of education, health care, active policy in the labor market, ensuring a decent standard of living for low-income groups of society, etc. - a priority direction in a socially oriented state.

Exactly new social model, designed taking into account the experience of the most developed countries and taking into account the specifics of Russia, is capable of ensuring progressive economic growth and constant improvement of citizens' living and working conditions. This presupposes full employment, the creation of quality jobs, equality of opportunity, social protection for everyone, and the participation of citizens in making all decisions that affect them. Social dialogue, collective bargaining and worker protection are critical to promoting innovation, increasing productivity and making economies more competitive.

An important link in social protection in the labor market is employment and retraining programs. Effective employment policy is more rational and socially oriented. A major role in the implementation of the concept of effective employment should be played by civil service employment. It must predict the processes that occur in the field of labor supply and demand, develop programs for training and retraining of workers in order to create a more qualified and mobile workforce.

To ensure the protection of the population, the state must, first of all, legislatively establish basic social guarantees and mechanisms for their implementation. European experience confirms that the social insurance system is one of the main institutions of social protection in a market economy. It is designed to provide financial support in old age, in case of illness, complete or partial loss of ability to work, etc. The size of social insurance payments depends on the volume of individual contributions, i.e. from the preliminary contribution of the insured. Thus, the principle of insurance in Western countries most consistent with market principles of fairness, reward according to personal contribution and personal responsibility.

In Russia today, the search for ways to improve the mechanisms of market management and social regulation continues, and tax reforms are being carried out. The formation of a market economy is a very complex and lengthy process. In this regard, it is especially important to deeply analyze the existing world experience, study the results of reforming the social sphere already obtained in Russia, correct weak ones or increase positive changes.

List of used literature

social economic policy

1. Borisov E.F. Economic theory [Text]: textbook - 2nd ed., revised. and additional - M.: Yurayt-M, 2000. - 384 p.

2. Vidyapin V.I. Economic theory (political economy) [Text]: Textbook / General. ed. acad. IN AND. Vidyapina, acad. G.P. Zhuravleva. - 4th ed. - M.: INFRA-M, 2004. - 640 p.

3. Dynkin A.A. World economy: forecast until 2020 [Text] / ed. acad. A.A. Dynkina // IMEMO RAS. - M.: Master, 2007. - 429 p.

4. Ermasova N.B. State and municipal finance: theory and practice in Russia and foreign countries [Text]: textbook, 2nd ed. reworked and additional / Ermasova N.B. - M.: Higher education, 2008. - 516 p.

5. Kargalova M.V., Kanunnikov A.A., Fedorov S.M., Chalova I.D. - M.: Institute of Europe RAS, 2007. - 81 p.

6. Mikulsky K.I. Socio-economic models (from world experience) [Text] / International Association of Academic Sciences, RAS; Ed. K.I. Mikulsky.-M.: ZAO Publishing House “Economy”, 2005. - 911 p.

7. Pankova L.N. System of state and municipal government [Text]: Textbook. 3rd ed. - St. Petersburg: Peter, 2009. - 368 p.

8. Globalization, growth and poverty. Construction of a global global economy [Text] / Transl. from English - M.: Publishing house “Ves Mir”, 2004.- 216 p.

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14. Modern world economy Questions

14.1 World economy. Basic forms of international economic relations

14.2 International economic integration

14.3 Concept and types of foreign economic policy

14.4 Currency relations: concept and types. Currency systems

14.1 World economy. Basic forms of international economic relations

World economy- is a set of national economies united by participation in the international division of labor and connected by a system of international economic relations.

The objective basis for the development of the world economy is the international division of labor. The division of labor is based on the specialization of countries in the production of certain types of products. The exchange of specialization products is a necessary condition for the reproduction process. The international division of labor is due to the following reasons: natural and climatic differences; geographical location of countries; diversity of socio-economic conditions.

The main forms of international economic relations (relations) are:

International trade;

International capital migration;

International labor migration;

International industrial and scientific-technical cooperation;

Currency relations in the global economy.

International trade.International (world) trade is trade in goods and services on a global scale. World trade is characterized by the following indicators: exports, imports, trade balance, foreign trade turnover, export quota.

Export is the export of goods and services abroad. Import– is the import of goods and services from abroad.

Trade balance is the difference between exports and imports of goods. The trade balance can be active or passive. Active a trade balance is achieved when exports exceed imports. Passive a trade balance occurs when imports exceed exports. In the case of a passive trade balance, the country has an external debt to foreign suppliers. It is the passive trade balance that is a chronic problem for the Republic of Belarus

Foreign trade turnover is the total value of exports and imports, expressed on the same price scale.

Export quota shows the ratio of the value of exports to the value of GDP. If the export quota exceeds 25%, then the country’s economy is recognized as dependent on global conditions. In the Republic of Belarus, the export quota is in the range of 50% - 60%.

International capital migration. International capital migration- this is a system of relations regulating the import of loan capital from abroad and the export of loan capital abroad.

Import of loan capital caused either by the need for rapid stabilization of the national financial and banking systems, or by the need for accelerated modernization of the national economy.

Removal of loan capital pursues the following goals: increasing the amount of profit received; maintaining and expanding sales markets. The export of loan capital is carried out in the forms of investments and loans.

Investments are divided into straight And portfolio. Investments in foreign enterprises that ensure control over them by the investor are called direct investments(creation of branches, subsidiaries, joint ventures abroad). Portfolio investment– is an investment of capital in securities with the aim of generating income, and not establishing control over the economic activities of a foreign enterprise.

International loans is provided either to a foreign government or to foreign entrepreneurs for the implementation of their investment projects.

For foreign borrowers, loans are more attractive than investments, because they do not reduce the degree of their control over enterprises. However, loans, unlike investments, create for the recipient country the problem of debt dependence on external creditors.

International labor migration.International labor migration is the movement of the working population from one country to another. There are two aspects of labor migration: emigration and immigration. Emigration- movement of part of the labor force across national borders. Immigration- influx of labor resources from abroad.

The main reasons for labor migration are economic, i.e. unemployment and national differences in wage levels. Importing high-quality labor allows you to save money on training specialists and increase the competitiveness of goods. However, host countries (recipients) are faced with an aggravation of the employment problem, a deterioration in the economic situation of their own workers, and an aggravation of social conflicts.

For donor countries, international labor migration contributes to the flow of foreign currency into the country (annually India, Indonesia, and Turkey receive 2–3 billion dollars in the form of remittances by emigrants to their homeland), new technologies, the accumulation of work experience, changes in the professional and qualification structure of employment, reduces the severity of the employment problem.

International industrial and scientific-technical cooperation. The most common form of international relations in the field of science and technology is the commercial exchange of scientific and technical knowledge. The main forms of such exchange include:

Trade in licenses. License- this is a permission issued by the patent owner (licensor) to another person or company (licensee) for the industrial and commercial use of the invention for a specified period for a certain fee;

Engineering. Engineering- provision of technological knowledge necessary for the acquisition, installation and use of purchased or leased machinery and equipment);

Leasing. Leasing- long-term lease of machinery and equipment, vehicles, production facilities and other facilities with subsequent purchase at residual value. The rental form of exporting machinery and equipment is economically beneficial for both parties: the tenant gets the opportunity to use expensive equipment without large initial capital investments, the lessor expands sales with a relative reduction in the risk of losses from the insolvency of the customer.

Currency relations. In connection with the existence of national price scales, the problem of uniform measurement of prices for goods produced in different countries arises. Currency is a national currency that can measure the currencies of other countries. The development of world trade requires the use of certain currency systems, the features of which will be discussed below.

Lecture 5. Social policy of the state: main goals, directions and mechanisms for its implementation

PLAN:

1. Social policy as social theory and practice. Basic functions of social policy.

2. Interrelation and interdependence of social policy and economics. Labor Economics.

Question 1. Social policy as social theory and practice

Before studying a specific discipline or analyzing a scientific problem, it is necessary to understand the categories used and understand the essence of the phenomena and processes related to the topic of research. Otherwise, it is difficult to expect a positive result. For example, it is hardly advisable to conduct a discussion about ways to develop the labor market or the social protection system if those participating in a scientific dispute put different meanings into key concepts.

So, in theoretical and practical terms, it is important, first of all, to understand the categorical apparatus, definitions of social policy, as well as the initial concepts that help to reveal its content.

Society and its structure

Words with Russian roots society, public and words with Latin roots society, social- synonyms. The same can be said about adjectives. public And social in relation to the phenomena that will be discussed below.

Society- a holistic, historically stable form (system) of joint life activity of people. The integrity and historical stability (reproducibility, renewability) of society are ensured by its internal structure and structure.

Society structure- this is its structure, device, dissected and qualitatively reproducible unity of interacting parts. It retains (renews), firstly, the organization of society as an integrity (system) and, secondly, the order of action of parts in society, which does not destroy its viability.

Society and its structure can be perceived in different ways. You can observe (contemplate), grasp the obvious connectedness of events, phenomena, facts, note similarities and differences, problems and interests. Or you can set a goal understandcauses events, the likelihood of their resumption, determine the time of relevance (urgency, significance) of a particular problem, understand the internal (natural) connection of interests, problems, actions, events.

To reach the knowledge of society to the causes, natural connections, to the prediction of probable actions, events and consequences is possible only scientific knowledge which aims to serve active actions in society. Such actions are called social practice(transformational activities). Social Science there is a cognitive side of social practice.

Different parts of the population are concerned with different problems. The part of the population that has the same type of stable (lasting and naturally recurring) social conditions and problems of life is called social group.

Society consists of social groups (the most numerous of them are classes). Each group has its own truth, its own ideas about what is good and what is bad in life, as well as what should be changed and how. In other words, social groups different interests, sometimes somewhat similar, and sometimes incompatible, even irreconcilable.

The totality of social groups - it is a social structure. The main thing here is the totality of the groups’ life problems, the similarities and differences of their interests, their ideas about desirable and undesirable changes, the orientation of social meaningful action and so on.

People and social groups live and act in the same society. Hence the inevitability interactions, relationships social groups and classes. The forms of such relationships are varied: civil consent, partnership, alliances, compromises, peace initiative, conflicts, hostility, pressure, strike, struggle, picket, civil disobedience, violence, threat, civil war, etc. And all this is politics.

Policy there are relationships between social groups (classes). This definition is the most accurate and quite complete. There are no societies without politics.

Statehood- a civilized form of political relationships in society, hard-won and generated by humanity.

Social politics. Social status

If social groups collide (or cooperate) regarding economic affairs, then this is economic policy; if regarding the natural environment, its condition and use, then this is environmental policy. There are social policies, demographic, cultural, educational and other policies (areas of relationships).

Social politics reflects the relationship of social groups regarding the preservation and change of the social status of the population, its constituent classes, layers, social, socio-demographic, socio-professional groups, social communities (families, nations, population of a city, town, region, etc.).

The main topic of social policy is social status certain parts of the people, the people as a whole.

Social status- this is the main, comprehensive characteristic of the life activity of the population as a whole and its components. Social status is formed as a result of the action of a system of significant factors (causes) that form the social conditions for the existence and development of the structural parts of society.

Parameters of social status - these are specific measures of social status, its qualitative and quantitative characteristics (indicators and assessments), the system of which allows one to reliably and with the necessary and sufficient certainty judge the real, predicted or programmed social situation and comprehensively assess its condition (the achieved milestone).

Social status parameters are also used when determining qualitative correlations levels welfare(poverty, prosperity, poverty, wealth, etc.).

In a practical sense, under social policy usually understood a set (system) of specific measures and activities, aimed at the livelihoods of the population. Depending on who main initiator(subject) of these measures, distinguish types of social policy - state, regional, corporate etc. This terminological approach has a right to exist, but it does not provide an opportunity for a deep, essential understanding of a social phenomenon. With such a narrow interpretation of social policy, for example, the absence of measures and activities makes it possible to conclude that there is no social policy as such. However, it always takes place - and not only in a theoretical, but also in a practical sense. Another thing is that social policy can be erroneous, weak, and deformed. In a broad sense and when viewed from a scientific point of view, this is not so much a system of measures and activities as a system of relationships and interactions between social groups, social strata of society, in the center of which the main ultimate goal is a person, his well-being, social protection and social development, life support and social security of the population as a whole.

Object and subject of social policy- the concept is not linear, but multi-level and systemic. By and large, the object and subject of social policy coincide with the main elements, blocks and structures included in a large single complex - the social and labor sphere (SLS). STS is a system of interconnected components and parts: sectors of the social sphere (education, healthcare, culture, sports, tourism, housing and communal services, etc.); labor market, employment, unemployment; social partnership; social protection; wages and labor protection; social insurance; pension system, etc. When pursuing social policy, it is important to keep all its directions in view, without leaving any of them unattended. For example, it is hardly possible to recognize a social policy that gives preference to the development of education, culture, etc. as strong and correct. to the detriment of solving problems of employment, pensions, etc.

Social policy at the federal level, at the level of the subject of the Federation and the relevant government bodies is primarily of a framework, normative-setting nature (relevant laws, decrees, regulations, etc. are worked out and adopted). Real, concrete social policy is carried out, as they say, face to face with a specific person, as a rule, at the district, municipal and corporate level. It is here that it finds its final embodiment and records its effectiveness and impact.

The essence of politics in general and social politics in particular is revealed through the relationships between stable elements of the social structure - social groups. The stability of such groups is reproduced due to the action of a complex of social conditions for their existence and development.

Social groups, structural parts of the people (society) are an undoubted reality. They may act or not act, be aware or unaware of their interests, organize for social action or be politically unorganized. They can be active social forces (real subjects of politics) and passive unorganized participants in social processes (potential, formal subjects).

Subjects of social policy- these are really independent and actually operating social groups and the bodies, organizations, institutions, and structures representing them. In addition to the social groups themselves, political subjects also include organizational structures representing their interests. It turns out that the subjects seem to bifurcate (double). For example, pilots, writers, scientists, miners are different social and professional groups. They created their own organizations: the Flight Crew Trade Union civil aviation, Writers' Union, Academy of Sciences, Miners' Trade Union. Class-based political organizations, unions, associations, movements. And all this characters social policy, its subjects.

Main functions of social policy

No matter what historical conditions social policy takes place, no matter what its historical type takes shape, there is always a circle of more or less constant, typical, recurring problems that constitute its real content. This refers to issues of the state and needs for improving the social situation, social living conditions of various social groups.

Main functions (main tasks, directions) of social policy:

1. Ensuring social sustainability, social security of society. The social structure can be different in different societies, and can change qualitatively in the history of one society as a result of revolutions and revolutionary reforms. But it must have the properties of stability and self-renewal (dynamism), otherwise this society declines, collapses, and ceases to exist. The social structure must be so stable as to withstand both internal and external dangers and at the same time bear within oneself the potential for qualitative renewal through reforms and revolutions.

All existing societies and the modern world order are based on the forced social donation of some social groups and countries in favor of others (exploitation). The relationship of forced social donation is fundamentally antagonistic. The problem of social sustainability is to avoid open manifestations of antagonism, including wars between countries and civil wars.

The ruling classes have accumulated historical experience in forcefully preserving antagonisms, suppressing uprisings and revolutions, banning and discrediting liberation ideologies, movements and parties. But they, especially in the 20th century, have also accumulated rich experience in maintaining social security by compromising the interests of countries and classes, establishing mechanisms for the social orientation of antagonistically contradictory processes. Examples are known: social market economy, welfare state, international assistance to underdeveloped countries, etc. The central point in such cases is always a large-scale government (state) redistribution of part of the effect in favor of social donors, which compensates for their potential mass dissatisfaction with the social injustice of the exploitative system.

A prominent theorist and practitioner of the social market economy, former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany W. Brandt said: “...Society can more or less fully satisfy the demands everyone citizens to a decent life only when it assigns the responsibility to take care of this to the state, better to say, to the social state... We consider the social state as an institutional guarantor of human dignity, including the human dignity of the ordinary man and ordinary woman... "

2. Ensuring the political stability of power. Such stability is achieved in different ways in societies of different types and in different specific historical conditions, but the essence always comes down to such a distribution of the real participation of social groups (classes) in political decisions that would maintain the dominant influence in the power of the ruling class. Otherwise, the class type of power changes and revolutionary transformations become inevitable.

3. Ensuring such a distribution of power in the economy (property) that would be recognized by the majority as fair and not requiring a struggle for redistribution.

4. Establishing a system of distribution of economic resources and economic effect that would more or less suit the vast majority of the population. The material living conditions of people in society and the ability to solve problems of different social groups depend decisively on the distribution of economic resources. Investments and their structure, the level and differentiation of income, the total size and structure of annual social expenditures, the conditions and amounts of social assistance and support - these and other economic parameters have a social meaning and social purpose.

5. Providing society and the state with the necessary and sufficient level of environmental safety.

6. Providing society and the state with the necessary and sufficient level of social security for both the population as a whole and each social group.

Social security- one of the social values, it presupposes an objective positive socio-psychological assessment social actors of a given specific historical society as a living environment. A sense of social security arises and is stable if social group or the population as a whole realizes that social risks are purposefully reduced by society and the state to the extent where they cannot significantly disrupt the normal social situation.

Social risks are called of social origin, namely probable dangers, threats of violation of the normal (for a given society) social situation, caused by factors that cannot be eliminated for a given society, rooted in its very specific historical structure.

Socially significant violation can be considered a significant deviation from the social norm of one or more the most important parameters social status of a particular social group.

Risks of disruption of normal social status have different nature, i.e. arise and can be reproduced for various reasons (natural disasters, military actions, epidemics, revolutions, coups d'etat, population explosions and failures, etc.). Social risks are distinguished in the system of risks by the fact that they arise and exist not in emergency, but in ordinary (normal) conditions of development of society, naturally (and not accidentally) accompany the normal functioning of society and, moreover, have their causes precisely in basic social relations, normal (everyday, regular) social orders.

Society generates and develops a system of protection against social risks - social protection. This is one of the functions of social policy. It must be carried out by society and the state so that social security is felt by the population as a whole and by each social group.

Question 2. Interrelation and interdependence of social policy and economics

The effectiveness of the implementation of social policy at any level (federal, regional, corporate), as is known, largely depends on the economy, budget support, financial resources of the state, constituent entities of the Federation, municipalities, enterprises, etc. Without sufficient financial resources, it is difficult to talk about the adequate development of education, healthcare, culture, the housing and communal services sector, the labor market, the provision of social protection of the population, the timely payment of wages, pensions, benefits, etc.

Unsatisfactory development of the social sphere, growth of poverty, unemployment, including in hidden forms, failures in providing housing and communal services to the population living primarily in the territories of the Russian North, and other acute social upheavals are largely explained by economic problems and errors in the formation of expenditure budgets, when unreasonably limited funds are provided for financing social events.

With the right approach, social policy itself and the social and labor sphere, which is its basis, can and should have an active influence on economic growth, financial flows and budget policy. The logic behind this thesis is as follows.

The recovery of Russia and its regions from the crisis is associated primarily with solving the problems of production development. It is precisely this issue that leads to the problem of generating budget revenues, the shortage of finances and monetary resources, including for the implementation of social policy. Fisher’s formula clearly demonstrates that in a society there should be as much money as there are created (in monetary terms) goods and services:

M V = Q P, where:

M is the volume of money supply in the country;

V is the speed of money supply turnover;

Q - volume of goods and services (GDP);

R - average price goods and services.

It is quite obvious that social policy and the social and labor sphere are not passive. They, while requiring significant financial resources for self-launch and development, at the same time actively influence the economy, economic growth, GDP dynamics, and the trajectory of society’s movement towards progress. For example, it is extremely clear that without effective employment, the organization of a system of powerful labor incentives, education systems, health care, culture, etc. it is impossible to develop production, increase the volume of goods and services (Q), and other micro- and macroeconomic indicators. And this requires an appropriate attitude to the social and labor sphere and social policy on the part of the state, its legislative and executive bodies, employers, entrepreneurs and owners.

There are many examples of the reverse influence of social policy and the social and labor sphere on society and the economy. Here's one of them. The state and employers spend huge amounts of money on the development and implementation of the pension system. It would seem that this is a purely social measure that has no access to the economic component. After all, a pensioner no longer works, he does not produce products, does not participate in the creation of GDP, etc. But this is a superficial look. In fact, if the pension system is developed from the standpoint of social justice, if the size of the pension directly depends on the results and quality of “past” work at pre-retirement age and the employee knows about this, then such a pension system will be a good incentive for productive labor and production development.

A similar relationship exists between economic efficiency, on the one hand, and solving problems of employment, labor protection, social insurance, development of cultural sectors, healthcare, science, education, on the other. Thus, economics and social policy are organically interconnected and interdependent, which requires a correct and balanced choice of priorities for their coordinated development at both the federal and regional levels.

Labor Economics

It is impossible to deeply and comprehensively analyze social policy, especially in relation to the sphere of production and services, without understanding the essence and content labor economics. This is the subject of scientific research, educational disciplines, practical activities of specialists and scientists of government and public structures(ministries and committees of labor, employment, trade unions, etc.). However, as evidenced by the analysis of specialized literature, among scientists and practitioners there is not only no common understanding of the essence and content of the term “labor economics,” but also no general approaches to the baptism of this theoretical and methodological problem have been defined. Even many textbooks and teaching aids for the course “Labor Economics” bypass the question of the essence of the key to this academic discipline categories. Considering the basic, fundamental, initial significance of defining and clarifying the essence and content of labor economics for the study of the discipline “social policy,” we will dwell on this issue in more detail.

Dictionaries-reference books (including those of recent years) reflect a wide range of ideas about the very essence of the concept. In some dictionaries on market economics it is absent, others define economics as “a set of industries”, “a set of production relations”, “a system of economic sciences that study economic relations in society”, “the science of economics, the way people conduct it, and relationships between people in the process of production and exchange of goods, about the patterns of economic processes”, etc. Sometimes the economy (of a country, republic, region) is understood too narrowly, reduced to individual spheres or sectors of economic activity, isolated processes and phenomena (for example, to a set of enterprises, finance, tax policy, pricing, etc.). This theoretical approach to economics cannot be ruled out. However, there is no reason to make it absolute: this can give rise to problems on a practical level. Measures to improve and develop the economy will not actually be aimed at the economy, but only at its individual components. By the way, this is where the strategy and tactics of limited activity of economic power structures, primarily ministries of economics, at the federal and regional levels, subjectivity in choosing priorities in the work of the latter, etc. come from.

In this regard, and taking into account the noted under the economy country or region in broad reproductive terms It is advisable to understand a dynamic socially organized economic system that ensures the process of production, distribution, exchange and consumption of socially useful material goods and services 1 .

This approach to defining the essence of the economy makes it possible to clearly and reasonably formulate economic concepts, programs, forecasts, as well as professionally plan the organization of the work of economic bodies, determine their functions, tasks, and priorities. In particular, programs and plans for the development of the country’s economy (regions, regions, districts, etc.) should contain, first of all, sections related to production of goods and services(about workers, employers, enterprises, industries, districts, relevant ministries, district administrations, problems of privatization, economic regulation, etc.). This is a key part of economic documents and the primary task of economic authorities.

Other sections cover processes distribution and exchange(pricing and relevant bodies and services, sales organizations, wholesale centers, etc.). Finally these are the sections related to consumption(about employees, enterprises, organizations, social sphere, civil service, etc.).

Labor is the process of conscious, purposeful activity of people, with the help of which they modify natural objects and adapt them to meet their needs. The labor process includes three main points: purposeful human activity, i.e. the work itself; the subject of labor on which the work is directed; means of labor with which a person influences the object of labor. However, the main condition for work is the availability of labor. In this regard, with a certain degree of convention (in the narrow sense), the labor economy can be considered the basis of labor economics.

Labor Economics- This is a dynamic socially organized system in which the process of reproduction of labor occurs: its production, formation (training, training, advanced training of workers, etc.), distribution, exchange and consumption (use), and also provides conditions for the interaction of the employee, means, objects of labor and the interaction process itself.

The process of production (formation) of labor (ability to work), i.e. employee training begins at school, it continues in universities, colleges, workplaces, advanced training institutes, internships, etc. The process of distribution and exchange of labor, as a rule, occurs in the labor market with the participation of three subjects of the institution of social partnership - employers, employees and the state, as well as directly at the enterprise (this is hiring, rotation of workers, dismissal, etc.). The exchange of labor power also involves an equivalent exchange for its price, i.e. wages.

Consumption (use) of labor is carried out directly at the workplace, in the labor process. It is accompanied by the production of specific socially useful products, services, semi-finished products, etc. In order for the employee to begin labor activity, was able to obtain the required results, appropriate conditions are necessary: workplace preparation, organization, security, labor incentives, social protection, etc.

Labor economics as a science studies the socio-economic relations that develop in the process of production, distribution, exchange and consumption of labor, providing conditions for productive labor, its protection, etc., and social policy is designed to promote the growth of the efficiency of the labor economy.

Question 3. Social and labor sphere as the basis of social policy

Recently the concept has been used quite often “social and labor sphere (STS)”, which was mentioned above. It reflects the object and subject of social policy, the unity and interdependence of labor and social relations, and also characterizes the degree of social development. In practice, labor relations (between labor and capital, employee and employer) rarely exist in their pure form, without a social component, and vice versa, social relations often arise as a result of labor processes, accompanying contradictions, conflicts, etc. The social and labor sphere quite fully reflects all phases of the reproduction of the labor force and its social support. With a certain degree of convention, labor economics (in a broad sense) can also be understood as the economics of the social and labor sphere.

The main blocks of the STS are those that reflect and provide phases of the labor force reproduction process:

Social sphere, i.e. branches of the socio-cultural complex (education, healthcare, culture, etc.);

Labor market, employment services, retraining of personnel (including the unemployed);

The sphere of motivation for productive work (organization of wages, stabilization of the standard of living of the population, etc.).

The next block includes groups of relations and components that arise in the process of reproduction of the labor force and providing conditions for the interaction of the employee with the means and objects of labor:

Social protection system;

System social partnership;

Social insurance system;

Social security system (pension system);

Labor protection, etc.

Social policy is closely related to the concept of “social market economy”. Let us consider how the concepts of “social market economy” and “market economy” relate. Explanations like: “The essence of a social market economy is its focus on man, his development, and the growth of well-being” are trivial, superficial and inaccurate. Even more questionable is the thesis that the market economy itself automatically, without outside intervention, regulates the standard of living of the population, the relationship between social justice and economic efficiency (freedom and order).

A market economy, the main goal and task of which is to increase production efficiency and profit, is the core of a social market economy. Of course, in achieving the main goal, the market economy to some extent solves some social issues- ensuring employment, paying wages for labor results, etc. However, it is based on competition and does not care about social justice. Social justice and social protection are ensured primarily through government intervention in the economy (redistribution of created benefits, tax policy, legal support and so on.). The state, by its will, turns the market economy towards the interests of the people and gives it the character of a social market economy. Under these conditions, it often sacrifices economic efficiency for the sake of social protection of the population. This thesis is illustrated, in particular, by facts from the practice of countries with social market economies (Japan, Sweden): the addition of traffic lights with audible alarms, special lifts on public transport for the disabled, etc.

So, one of the most important criteria social market economy is the priority of social protection, social justice over economic efficiency, which is given for the sake of social peace in society and is ensured primarily in the process of implementing state social policy.

The promotion of social goals among the priorities of modern economic development led to the formation of the state's social policy. Social policy is the activity of the state aimed at providing conditions for the most complete satisfaction of the needs and improvement of the well-being of the country's population. Social policy involves joint activities of the state and trade unions, as well as business structures, public funds, parties, etc.
The main goals of social policy are:
ensuring full and rational employment of the population;
mitigation of inequality in the distribution of income of the population;
protecting the nation's health;
environmental Safety;
neutralizing the negative consequences of a market economy;
ensuring favorable living and working conditions for the entire population of the country;
creating conditions for maintaining social stability.
In this regard, the main directions of the state’s social policy can be considered:
guaranteeing a minimum income to members of society;
maintaining and developing the abilities of members of society and, above all, the ability to work;
providing members of society with an acceptable level of social services;
providing protection against unemployment and inflation;
providing targeted support to citizens in the event of an unfavorable situation.
In accordance with this, the following tasks are being solved: liberalization of business and promotion of small businesses, implementation of employment programs, assistance to the disabled, ensuring accessibility and development of education, medicine, social insurance and culture, implementation of special programs to protect low-income segments of the population.
The way to implement the state's social policy is the system of social protection and social guarantees. Social protection is a system of measures carried out by society to ensure the sustainability of the socially normal financial and social situation of its citizens. Social guarantees are a system of obligations of society to its members to specifically satisfy a number of their necessary needs.
Social protection of the economically active population is carried out in several areas:
state measures related to the preparation of qualified labor activity;
measures to ensure accessibility to the realization of abilities in the process of work;
measures related to ensuring the process of labor activity;
measures aimed at creating new jobs;
support for workers who have lost the opportunity to work.
The main elements of the system of social guarantees are such guarantees as the obligations of universal access and free education, the obligations of realizing abilities in the process of work, the obligations of the inadmissibility of forced labor and the obligations of minimizing losses in connection with the termination of labor activity.
The implementation of the state's social policy may have social and market approaches. The social approach assumes that society must guarantee each member an income that does not allow him to fall below the “poverty line.” At the same time, assistance should be provided only to those who need it, and should be “affordable” to the state budget, otherwise it will turn into an inflationary factor and worsen the situation of the poor. The market approach is based on the fact that the task of the state is not to guarantee income, but to create conditions for each member of society to demonstrate economic activity and increase income. The first approach is based on the principle of social justice, and the second on economic rationality. In the process of implementing social policy, a combination of both principles is possible.
An indicator of the effectiveness of using each of the approaches to solving social problems or their combination should be the dynamics of the standard of living of the country's population.
There are two types of social policy: liberal and social democratic. The liberal version of social policy relies on “economic man”. Highly organized and decently paid labor, personal savings and investments of the population in human, physical and monetary capital are recognized as the most acceptable areas of social protection. Conflicts and contradictions that arise in society are considered as standard companions of modern social life. The social responsibility of the state is reduced to a minimum. The social democratic option places high responsibility for stability and social progress on the modern state. The state is obliged to clearly ensure a social minimum standard of living and not allow excessive social differentiation. This version of social policy is characterized by the presence of a highly effective social protection system, accessibility to wide sections of the population of social infrastructure (education, science, culture, healthcare, funds mass media), as well as dominance in society of partnerships. Thus, the social democratic version of social policy presupposes the achievement of a state of society that is characterized by the stability of the socio-economic situation of all its members. In terms of direction and content, the social-democratic option most fully corresponds to the tasks of a transition economy.
The most important social policy measures in the Republic of Belarus in modern conditions are:
creation of a targeted social protection system;
streamlining benefits, allowances and additional payments paid at the expense of enterprises, organizations and firms by including them in tariff rates and official salaries;
the introduction of tax and credit benefits for enterprises and firms that create additional jobs and employ women with many children, disabled people, and youth;
clarification of the cost of the “consumer basket” taking into account price dynamics, wages and world practice;
regular revision of the minimum wage in the national economy due to rising prices;
development of insurance medicine;
creation of a republican labor organization similar to the ILO ( International organization labor).

Main goals of state social policy. Social policy of the state

20) The system of social standards as the basis of the social policy of the social state (based on an analysis of trends in Russia and foreign experience).

The main goals of the state's social policy. Directions of society development policy. Classification of social policy models of leading Western European countries. Formation of the term "Swedish model", the essence of the German system of economic policy.

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