Salaries in the public sector are growing, while real earnings of the population аre falling. Nina Kozlova’s comment to Nezavisimaya Gazeta

Falling income of the population is threatening economic growth, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Olga Golodets said. The Minister of Labour and Social Affairs Maxim Topilin said it is abnormal when salary growth does not correspond to the dynamics of income of the population. There are hopes that the increase in minimum wages up to a living wage may reduce the number of the underprivileged. However, officials do not take it into account that the poverty level in Russia is significantly underestimated – twice, thrice or even four times, depending on the estimation method. That is why it we should say that paupers will considered poor, rather than speak about a decrease in the poverty level.