The Human Development Index under the Current Waste Management System in the Russian Regions

Abstract

This paper attempts to analyze the existing environmental issues in the Russian Federation with the help of macroeconomic indicators, with special emphases being placed on the Human Development Index (HDI). The work presents the algorithm of HDI calculation, examines its advantages and disadvantages and describes the possibility to reflect the environmental situation with the help of HDI. Scientific novelty of the study is the proposed method of computing HDI taking into account the situation in the field of waste management (earlier, macro indicators with environmental adjustment took into account only water and air pollution). Inclusion of waste accumulation parameter tends to decrease most regional HDIs in comparison with their traditional values, which underlines the gravity and relevance of waste challenges in the Russian Federation. The article highlights the shortcomings of the Russian environmental waste policy, and proposes the ways to stimulate the reduction of waste generation and accumulation.