Effectiveness and Demand for Social Contract Measures: An Empirical Analysis of Data for the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan

The social contract has been a mandatory poverty alleviation tool in all Russian regions since 2021. The authors compared statistical data from 2020–2024 to identify key trends, challenges, and factors influencing the effectiveness of social contract measures in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan. Data were sourced from open reports by the Ministries of Labor and Social Protection of both the Russian Federation and the Republic of Tatarstan, as well as from annual social contracts reports (Form No. 1). The findings were verified by comparing the activities of specialists from territorial social protection authorities and conducting expert interviews with employees of the Interdepartmental Commission and the Ministry of Labor of the Republic of Tatarstan. The research revealed discrepancies between the level of demand for the five social contract measures, their implementation capacity, and actual payments. In Russia, the number of social contracts peaked in 2021 (222,300), followed by a 28.0% decrease by 2024. In Tatarstan, the peak occurred in 2020 (9,600), with a subsequent 38.4% decline by 2024. Job seeking and individual entrepreneurship proved to be the most effective and in-demand measures. Conversely, vocational training and additional professional education appeared less effective, while "other measures aimed at overcoming adverse life situations" remained largely underutilized. Demand for subsistence farming (personal subsidiary plots) also declined. The reduction in the total number of social contracts was not due to falling demand, but rather to the successful reduction of poverty levels. These measures remain vital for the target social strata, as evidenced by the stable coverage of the target audience.