New Eastern Europe Issue 1

84
Opinion and Analysis Agata Wierzbowska-Miazga, From the Cradle to the Grave
Apart from the traditional destinations, such as Western Europe, the United
States, Canada and Australia, India and Taiwan are becoming quite popular among
Russian émigrés. Yet increasing emigration among Russia’s business circles may
become a threat to the country’s development and modernisation.
The evil behind it all
Th e last several years have seen a reverse tendency in the recorded death rate.
Since 2003, when 16.4 thousand deaths were reported, the death rate has been
falling and stopped at 14.2 thousand in 2009. At present, the generation of baby
boomers of the 1940s and 1950s is starting to die out, which may make it diffi cult
to maintain a favourable trend. Premature death among men remains a serious
problem. Th e projected life expectancy for Russian men is 63 years, while women
are expected to live 11 years longer. And even though there are more boys than
girls born in Russia, the ratio changes only after the age of 25, at most 30. In these
age groups women start to dominate and their participation increases in subsequent
age groups.
Women constitute around 54% of Russian society, a rate which has been quite
stable for years. In a study on Russia’s demographic problem, Professor Nicolas
Eberstadt, while analysing the death rates among men, concludes that in this aspect
Russia resembles a post-war society or a society in confl ict more than a developing
economy during peacetime. Th e reason behind this situation is alcohol. Alcohol
intoxication is the direct cause of only 1.5% of deaths. A demographic specialist,
Professor Alexander Nemcov, estimates that excessive alcohol consumption is the
cause of 19% of deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, the most frequent cause of
death in Russia, and of 60% of fatal incidents (including 67% of homicides and 50%
of suicides). Excessive alcohol consumption is also related to deaths resulting from
diseases such as cirrhosis, tuberculosis, pneumonia and cancer. Nicolas Eberstadt
cites research from one city in the Urals which showed that over 40% of men who
died young were, at the moment of death, under the infl uence of alcohol or drugs
(and that includes 25% of those who died from heart-related problems and more
than half as a result of an accident or injury). Alcohol also impairs men’s reproductive
health. According to Nemcov’s estimates, Russian men, on average, drink
one bottle of vodka a week (produced legally and illegally).
Th e Russian government is trying to curb alcohol consumption. Drinking in
public places is prohibited. Alcohol cannot be advertised on TV from 7 a.m. to
10 p.m. In July 2010, the State Duma passed a law which banned alcohol sale (including
beer) at night. Th e question remains: how eff ective are the restrictions?
Alcohol production thrives in Russian homes. In May 2010, the Ulyanovsk oblast