Regional features of targeted social assistance: prerequisites and support measures

Abstract

Object: The main purpose of the article is to study the regional features of targeted social assistance in the Karaganda region in order to develop proposals for mechanisms for its activation.
Methods: In the course of the study, statistical methods for processing economic data in the Python program were used, in particular, the cluster analysis method.
Findings: Using the cluster analysis method, the article reflects the differentiation of the regions of the Karaganda region according to the attributes of citizens who have received the right to conditional cash assistance (hereinafter CCA). A multidimensional classification of the regions of the Karaganda region was carried out using three groups of characteristics of recipients of targeted social assistance: demographic; economic, due to the state of the economy of the region; organizational and managerial, characterizing the activities of employment services. Demographic characteristics include attributes calculated as specific indicators per 1 CFS family: average family size; the number of large families; the number of able-bodied persons; the number of people caring for other family members (children, the disabled, the elderly). As a result of the analysis, a dendrogram was obtained, in which two clusters are distinguished, both contain two subclusters inside themselves.
Conclusions: In the resulting clusters, greater homogeneity within each is determined by the similarity of demographic characteristics and greater variation in economic, organizational and managerial characteristics. For each of the subclusters, proposals were made to intensify state employment measures, since conditional financial assistance is aimed precisely at stimulating labor activity. For subcluster 1.1, retraining or advanced training is recommended for employment in a higher paying job in order to increase the average family income. For subcluster 1.2, it is additionally proposed to involve caregivers in part-time employment. Subclusters 2.1 and 2.2 are characterized by a high dependency burden. Such a measure is proposed as the replacement of the allowance for a child of preschool age with a statesubsidized service of a preschool institution. This may slightly increase the amount of payments from the budget, but it is a measure of inclusiveness and equalization of life opportunities for children.