Purchasing power and consumption structure of the population: a regional aspect

This article examines the purchasing power of monetary income and consumption of the population of the Jewish Autonomous Region in the current socio‑economic conditions for the period 2018–2023. The objective of the study is to analyze the purchasing power of monetary income of the population of the Jewish Autonomous Region and determine the structure and level of its final consumption in the current socio‑economic conditions. The work is structured around two main research areas: monetary income and determining its purchasing power as a factor in the material well‑being of the population, and consumer expenditures as the main component of the overall consumption structure. The following methods were used in the study: analysis, synthesis, generalization, etc. The information base for the study was data from the Federal State Statistics Service and its territorial body in the studied region. It is concluded that, despite the increase in the monetary income of the population of the Jewish Autonomous Region and its purchasing power over the study period, a decrease in the share of food products in the overall structure of consumer expenditures did not occur, which is inconsistent with the general theory of consumer demand and most international empirical observations. The authors believe this trend has several causes, the main ones being: consumer price growth outpacing income growth, a broader choice of goods and services, and growing intraregional income differentiation among the region's population. Furthermore, the authors identified the relationship between three components of the region's socioeconomic development: gross regional product, purchasing power of income, and consumption patterns. The study's results can be used by regional authorities to improve their socioeconomic policies.