Specifics of demographic policy at the regional level: the case of the Republic of Tatarstan

The study analyzes theoretical approaches to understanding the essence of reproductive behavior, factors influencing its formation, the role and structure of demographic policy. The study considers the specifics of demographic policy, the evolution of Russian experience in managing demographic processes, and provides statistical data. Attention is drawn to the expansion of the range of socio-psychological and socio-cultural motivation of reproductive behavior. The state demographic policy is considered as a response to the challenges of the country’s social development, and the key role of a number of documents is shown. The author shows crucial importance of the national projects “Healthcare”, “Demography”, “Education”, and “Culture” in solving the fertility crisis in the country. Most of the measures to support families with children and stimulate fertility were provided in the national Demography project. Attention is drawn to the launch of the new national project “Family”, which continues the best practices of the Demography project, as well as provides comprehensive support for families with children, reducing poverty, and creating a positive image of having many children. The study systematizes measures of demographic policy at the federal and regional levels, identifies their specifics in the Republic of Tatarstan in the context of changing patterns of reproductive behavior. Regional measures to support families with children and large families are presented in relation to the dynamics of demographic indicators of the republic in the period from the beginning of the 21st century to 2024. During the period of implementation of the measures, a more prosperous demographic state of the Republic of Tatarstan was noted in comparison with the regions of the Volga Federal District and Russia as a whole in terms of fertility and life expectancy. In 2022, the federal total fertility rate was 8.9‰, while the republican birth rate was 9.2‰.