METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES FOR CALCULATING AND USING THE AVERAGE WAGE INDEX AT THE REGIONAL LEVEL IN RUSSIA

The article discusses methodological issues regarding the calculation of the average wage index for the regional level. In authors' opinion, the indicator of average monthly nominal wages of employees calculated at the regional level is inadequate in assessing the implementation of management decisions at the macro level, particularly in connection with the Presidential Decree no. 597 from 07.05.2012 «On measures for implementation of the state social policy», due to a certain lack of comparability between the numerator (size of wage and salaries fund) and a denominator (average number of employees). Despite the fact that the new method for calculating the average monthly wage (tested by Rosstat on data for 2015) removes a number of problems in the methodology for calculating this indicator, the authors believe that it still does not describe the specific information and methodological tools that allow to implement the declared adjustment procedure for average wages in the region, taking into account differences in the place of receipt of income and place of residence.

The authors have developed statistical and methodological approach that allows at the expert level to make adjustments to the calculations of the average wage index, which is especially necessary for those regions of the country, which actively attract foreign labor or provide jobs to citizens at the expense of additional second job employment and an a contractual basis. The paper includes calculations of adjusted values of the average monthly nominal gross wage of workers for Russia as a whole, as well as for Moscow and St. Petersburg.

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