What does the Municipal Research Institution “Research Institute for Socio-Economic Development of the City” do?
It conducts scientific research on various aspects of socio-economic, demographic, informational, ecological, and other developments within the city. Based on the results of this work, it formulates proposals for the most effective and balanced solutions to pressing issues that concern society. Additionally, it prepares expert analytical assessments regarding the strategic directions for the development of Kyiv, the improvement of the investment climate in the capital, and the quality of life for its residents. At least, this is what is stated on the institution's website.
We are intrigued by a number of studies. A question arises: was it really necessary to conduct these during the war, when the country's financial resources should be directed towards the Defense Sector and the frontline? Are such studies truly critical, without which the city authorities cannot manage?
5 Highly relevant topics?
Here are the topics that interested municipal researchers during two field studies: “Assessment by the capital's residents of European and Euro-Atlantic integration and summarization of results” (for this work, the winner of the tender – the firm “First Rating System” – was paid 708 thousand hryvnias); “Youth assessment of the quality of life and accessibility of services for young men and women in the capital and summarization of results” (this contract also went to the aforementioned firm, costing 387 thousand hryvnias).
The third topic was titled: “Study of media consumption among Kyiv residents. Monitoring the consumption of municipal media in Kyiv.” The tender was also won by the mentioned firm, which was the only participant in the bidding process, costing 530 thousand hryvnias.
The fourth topic was: “Gender aspects of human capital development during the war and post-war recovery.” The order was fulfilled by the firm “Sociopolis,” costing 524 thousand 400 hryvnias.
“Breeding” mountains of sociological conclusions
“Kashtan NEWS” sent a request to the Kyiv City State Administration (KCSA), asking what recommendations and proposals had been directed to the city leadership, primarily the Mayor of Kyiv, based on the results of the mentioned studies.
6 Unfortunately, the municipal researchers were unable to answer this simple question. The director of the institution, Serhiy Pavlovskyi, only stated that “the conclusions and/or recommendations of the studies you mentioned are an integral part of the research work and are sent in the established manner to the clients of such research.” However, how these conclusions help city officials improve the lives of Kyiv residents, develop infrastructure, solve urgent problems, etc. – is completely unknown. So why does the territorial community need such studies? Considerable budget funds have been spent on them, meaning taxpayer money. Ultimately, has anyone in the municipal management asked the citizens about the necessity of conducting such sociological surveys? We have doubts.
Let us remind you that among the main topics of the institution's developments is also “determining the factors of socio-economic priorities of the territorial community of Kyiv.” Perhaps the director of this municipal institution, Serhiy Pavlovskyi, can tell us how the four studies we mentioned relate to the socio-economic priorities of the community?
7 And there are no plans for these questions
Shouldn't Serhiy Pavlovskyi and his colleagues include truly pressing and acute topics in their plan that concern Kyiv residents daily? For instance, about inflated prices for medications in some pharmacy chains, disruptions in hot water supply and heating in residential buildings, difficulties and obstacles in organizing homeowners' associations (OSBB), the terrible condition of passenger minibuses, the creation of new parking lots, and the construction of intercepting parking spaces, as well as the demolition of historical buildings, etc. There are dozens of similar urgent issues. However, we do not see sociological research on this.
Moreover, it would be interesting to inquire about the opinion of Kyiv residents on the effectiveness of the KCSA’s Department of Transport Infrastructure, and how the community reacted to large-scale financial maneuvers and the escape of the mayor's appointee – former metro chief Viktor Brahinskyi.
“Luxurious” topics
Now let's pause to discuss the conclusions and recommendations of the aforementioned studies (copies of these materials were sent by Serhiy Pavlovskyi in response to the editorial request).
Here is the topic – “Assessment by the capital's residents of European and Euro-Atlantic integration and summarization of results.” What do the researchers assert, in particular?
“The survey results demonstrate overwhelming support from citizens for the direction of events in Kyiv regarding integration into the EU and NATO…”
8 By the way, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology also conducted research: “Measurements of Attitudes Towards the EU and NATO.”
However, the municipal institution led by Serhiy Pavlovskyi also decided to ascertain the opinions of Kyiv residents on this issue, paying, we emphasize, 708 thousand hryvnias from the city treasury.
The second study by the Research Institute for Socio-Economic Development of the City concerned the youth's assessment of the quality of life and accessibility of services for young men and women in the capital. It was striking that these conclusions often encountered overly positive assessments. For example:
“Young Kyiv residents are most satisfied with the availability of locations with greenery and recreation areas… and the quality of public transport in the neighborhood…”.
However, there are hundreds of angry comments from Kyiv residents about the performance of public transport on the mayor's Facebook page.
9 We also reviewed the results of the research “Study of Media Consumption Among Kyiv Residents. Monitoring the Consumption of Municipal Media in Kyiv.” One of the conclusions states that
“Kyiv municipal media have strong positions among traditional media and among media consumers in the capital… Municipal media also enjoy higher trust levels than central media among Kyiv residents, confirming the correctness of the capital's media policy…”.
0 Who would doubt these conclusions?! And the cost of the work is substantial – 530 thousand hryvnias!
Municipal media, which, by the way, are funded by the city budget, like the research institution led by Serhiy Pavlovskyi, are focused on praising the activities of Mayor Klitschko and his team. There is no practice of reporting on the activities of opposition-minded Kyiv City Council deputies. Competition between municipal media and other forms of media, which struggle for audiences in very tough market conditions, has long been forgotten. Drawing millions from the city budget while glossing over reality – that’s quite a cozy bath, wouldn’t you agree?
Let’s briefly touch on the conclusions of the research on “Gender Aspects of Human Capital Development During the War and Post-War Recovery.” They are, in our opinion, filled with general phrases, such as:
“For effective establishment of gender equality during the war at the city level, it is necessary to implement comprehensive measures…”.
1 Yet, for this work, 524 thousand 400 hryvnias were not spared from the city budget.
It would be interesting to know how many strike drones for our soldiers could be purchased with the funds that were “consumed” by the mentioned studies?
Bohdan TUR