Socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Russia and other countries: analysis of anti-crisis programs, impact on the position in international rankings and prospects for recovery

The article examines the socio-economic consequences of the COIVD-19 pandemic, such as the increase in poverty and social differentiation. Goal. To identify and analyze the socio-economic consequences of the COIVD-19 pandemic in Russia and other countries of the world, the measures taken by national governments to combat these consequences, as well as the dynamics of Russia's position in international economic rankings and the presence or absence of a connection between this dynamics and the dynamics of investment in the national economy. Objectives. Analysis of indicators of poverty and social stratification in Russia and the world in the context of the COIVD-19 pandemic; comparison of anti-crisis economic programs in the largest countries and Russia by GDP; study of the methodology of the most credible international economic rankings; comparative analysis of the dynamics of Russia's position in international economic rankings and the dynamics of capital investment and foreign direct investment in Russia. Methodology. The methods of system analysis, classification and comparison, evolutionary-institutional theory and historical approach were applied. Statistical and other data of the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation, federal executive authorities of the Russian Federation, the Eurasian Economic Commission were used, and their own calculations were carried out on the basis of these data. Results. It was revealed that in order to combat the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments in different countries implemented comprehensive packages of measures including such as increasing health care costs, direct support for the population, maintaining employment, promoting small and medium-sized businesses, and the most affected sectors of the economy. The total volume of the anti-crisis program in Russia, calculated as a percentage of GDP, is about 2-3 times less than in the largest world economies. Conclusions. At the same time, our country is distinguished by a significantly higher level of concentration of wealth in the hands of a group of so-called «super-rich» citizens, compared to the global average and the level of Eastern European countries, even in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, the dynamics of the volume of capital investment and foreign direct investment, as possible sources of recovery of economic growth, significantly lags behind the dynamics of Russia's position in some international ratings.