Индекс проактивности как инструмент анализа социальной политики

Журнал исследований социальной политики. 2025. Т. 23. № 3. С. 465–478.

Nazarbaeva E., Pishnyak A., Khalina N.

Social policy debates tend to focus on vulnerable groups, overlooking the more active and initiative-­oriented parts of the population. Yet these groups could be a valuable resource for overcoming crises and driving social development. Who are they, how can they be identified in nationwide surveys, and what demands do they place on the state? This article proposes a new approach to studying these groups by operationalizing the concept of proactivity. Drawing on psychology, management, and sociology, the theoretical framework highlights five key features of proactive behavior: initiative, anticipation, orientation toward change, influence on the environment, and a future-­oriented outlook. Using data from the nationwide Readiness for Change survey (HSE University, 2022; N=6 310), the authors construct a Proactivity Index that captures varying degrees of proactivity rather than dichotomising the population into 'proactive' and 'non-proactive.' The findings reveal significant socio-­demographic differences and some unexpected patterns. Higher proactivity is characteristic of men, individuals with higher education qualifications, and parents of underage children, while it declines among older age groups and those approaching retirement. Importantly, proactivity does not equate to rejecting state support. In fact, the most proactive groups articulate a distinct demand for policies that enhance their capacity to act, such as access to education and retraining, childcare for preschoolers, and opportunities to balance family and work. Conversely, less proactive groups tend to favor universal measures, such as support for pensioners or disabled people. By developing the Proactivity Index, this study broadens the scope of social policy analysis. It shifts the focus away from viewing the population solely through the lens of vulnerability, towards a more nuanced understanding that recognizes the existence of resourceful and initiative-­driven groups. This raises a crucial policy question: how can the state support those in need of protection while enabling proactive groups to drive social and economic development?

Keywords: социальная политика, человеческий капитал, social policy, государственная поддержка, proactivity, проактивность, state support, index method, human capital, индекс проактивности

Publication based on the results of: Inequality and new forms of well-being and disadvantage in changing socio-economic conditions (2024)