Culture Runs through the Sewers – the FBK Study of “How Much is Russia”

The assessment of value of culture and art carried out in the context of “How much is Russia: 10 years later” project showed that that sector shares the same problem with the other social sectors, i.e. the underestimation.

The cost of the “cultural sector” over the last 10 years decreased by 37% and amounts to 24 trillion roubles. During that period the number of cultural and leisure establishments decreased by 19%. In addition, the number of libraries decreased by 20%. At the same time it should be noted that over the decade the number has increased of professional theatres by 13%, of circuses – by 5%, and of museums – by 23%. The attendance of the latter has grown by 22%.

Very indicative is the comparison of Russia’s share of culture and art in the country’s gross value added. The average figure for the European Union in 2012 is 1.4%. In Russia it is only 0.8% (0.7% in 2002). All the countries of Euro zone except Belgium, Poland and Switzerland have higher values. The indices of the most developed European countries surpass that of Russia twice. The leader in 2012 (according to the latest available data) is Malta with the figure of 8.6%.

The authors of research decided to refrain from attempting to give a complete informative slice of labor recourse statistics in culture and art. The point is that with the transition of Rosstat in 2003 to the system of statistical data reporting in accordance with the Russian classification of economic activities (OKVED), culture and art were included into the category of ‘Other community, social and personal services’. Besides ‘the activities on recreation and entertainment, culture and sports’, it includes such different from culture and art types of activities as ‘provision of personal services’, ‘NGO’s activities’, as well as ‘collection of sewage, waste and similar activity’. That is, those engaged by the theatres and museums turned out to be counted together with those employed in collecting of sewage and waste.

Detailed research materials can be found at http://www.skolko.ru/.