LAUSR

The article considers regional social assistance policies in terms of efficiency. The analysis is based on data from a representative household survey conducted by the Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat). Efficiency of regional social assistance policies is understood as efficiency of regional budget expenditures on social assistance measures in terms of the impact of these measures on poverty rate and gap, as well as on income inequality. The funds spent on regional social transfers are comparable to the total poverty gap, but reduce the latter by only 9% and the poverty rate by only 1% (from 12 to 11%). To increase efficiency, a significant part of social assistance spending should be redistributed in favor of those most in need.