1、BRIEFING EPRS|European Parliamentary Research Service Authors:Eric Pichon and Martin Russell Maps and graphs:Samy Chahri,Gyorgyi Macsai and Lucille Killmayer Members Research Service PE 729.375 April 2022 EN Human development in Putins Russia What the data tell us SUMMARY While the UN Human Developm
2、ent Index,which assesses progress in the standard of living,health and education,ranks Russia among the very high human development countries,other data suggest a more nuanced reality.Russia has gone from Soviet-era egalitarianism to extremes of wealth and poverty.Economic growth during the first de
3、cade under Vladimir Putins leadership slightly reduced the gap between rich and poor,but inequality is still higher than in most developed countries.Factors such as corruption and low taxes for the rich exacerbate the income gap.Free public healthcare and a relatively inclusive education system appa
4、rently mitigate inequality.However,many hospitals are ill-equipped,and universities struggle to compare with foreign counterparts.Since 2014 and the invasion of Crimea,Russians living conditions have deteriorated.Russias war of aggression on Ukraine and the imposition of Western sanctions is already
