The influence of inflation on the standard of living of the population

Maria Cheremshuk

National University of Food Technologies, Kyiv, Ukraine

Inflation, as the economic phenomenon existed long time ago, and this term purchased wide distribution in economic literature after First World War.

Nowdays a question of low and non-destructive inflation rates is actual at the national market, so as it substantial growth negatively affects all parties of socio-economic life in Ukraine.  And the economy growing depends on the decision of this task, monetary and currency-financial policy, profitability of enterprises.

The problem of inflation in Ukraine was studied in labours of A. Gal'chynskyi [1], Levchenko Z. [2], V. Kalyuzhnyi [3], Lysytskogo V. [4], Lichnarovskyi A [5], Doroshenko I. [6], Scherbaka A [7], and others. Each of these scientists have their own point of view at this problem. For example, A. Gal'chinskiy [1] explains the high level of inflation the artificially overpriced profits of population, and V. Kalyuzhniy [3] considers that inflation in Ukraine has monetary character.

The inflation itself consists of depreciating of the national currency in relation to commodities, services and foreign currency, which keep stability the purchasing power.

The major of the external factor of the growth of inflation unjustified setting of the exchange rate when converting currencies, which leads to significant fluctuations in exchange rates.

Also, we can mention the following internal causes of inflation in Ukraine:

•-          exceeding the rate of income growth over the growth of industry;

•-         significant increase in energy costs;

•-         unstable political situation in the country;

•-         national budget deficit

All these factors which influence the inflation negatively affects all aspects of social and economic level of life. The Inflation results the following: devaluation of savings; hidden confiscation of funds through the introduction of innovations in the tax system; redistribution of income and wealth; instability and lack of economic information; decrease of real interest; increase of prices for food; increase in the number of unemployed; reduction of income; decline in living standards.

According to scientists [1], the main indicators of integrated assessment of living standards in terms of inflation are: real average salary, real average cash income per person, concentration coefficient of income, the excess of average cash income over expenses, the ratio of average cash income and living minimum, minimum consumer budget.

In terms of inflation there is a growth of negative effects of social and economic polarization of society in terms of life level, depopulation, deterioration of the quality characteristics of life, their physical, moral - ethical health, inefficient use of professional qualification potential, increase in underemployment and unemployment.

So here we can make a conclusion that inflation has a significant impact on the standard of living and to overcome this problem we need to work proactively and we need to struggle against its causes rather than consequences.

And if there are inflationary processes we should develop active social policies to improve people's lives and this is possible on the basis of the formation of the following strategic areas: social reorientation of processes of economic reform aimed at improving living standards; taking into account the economic interests of all social groups distinguishing of the most unprotected in the social aspect; providing minimum social guaranties; identifying the role and place of each category of population in the formation of a market economy based on reasonable classification of structure of the society.

References

1. A. Gal'chynskiy Stabilizaciya hryvnyas: problems and prospects of //Visnyk NBU. - 2002. - ¹7. - P. 9-13.

2. Does inflation grow - what to do?/ Z. Levchenko// securities of Ukraine - 2008 - ¹ 11 - P. 22-23.

3. V. Kalyuzhniy Mekhanizm of development and counteraction inflation in Ukraine//Ekonomist - 2008 - ¹ 6. - P. 16-22.

4. V. Lysytskiy Inflyaciya is an immortal problem of ekonomik//

Personal Plus. - ¹ 44 (247). - P. 12.

5. Development of inflation in Ukraine in modern period/ A. Lichnarovska// the Scientific revisions of young people - to the decision of problem of European integration. zb. sciences. of articles in 2 volumes - 2008  - P.162-164.

6. Development of inflationary processes and their globalizations is on skladova/ of  I. Doroshenko// International finances - 2008 - ¹ 6 - P. 10-16.

7. How to tame inflation in Ukraine?/ A. Scherbak// Economist - 2008 - ¹9 - P. 43-45.