Kirill Chernovol on civil service personnel issues: the “renaissance of the culture of service” is in question

Kirill Chernovol on civil service personnel issues: the “renaissance of the culture of service” is in question
Kirill Chernovol

Kirill Chernovol, a researcher at the Gaidar Institute’s International Best Practices Analysis Department, commenting for RBC on a study conducted by the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration on the «renaissance of the culture of service” in Russia, raised a number of important issues related to trust in civil servants, attracting qualified personnel and motivation of officials.

“45% of distrust is very high, while the average level of distrust in the authorities in the member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is about the same — 44%. So, this is an “average” result by world standards, but growth is possible. International studies show that when trust in the government improves by 10 points, GDP growth rates usually accelerate by about half a percent, because the country’s investment attractiveness also increases. Therefore, it makes both social and economic sense for Russia to work on improving trust. It is worth noting that according to the Quality of Life in Russian Cities Index from VEB.RF, the average share of Russians who believe that they can influence the development of their neighborhood or city is only about 26.6%. This is an important 'barometer' of trust at the micro level: the higher the real participation in decision-making, the higher the legitimacy of institutions,” Kirill Chernovol noted.

“In order to retain qualified professionals, the OECD points out that it is necessary, among other things, to have a salary not lower than 70% of the market rate, transparent bonuses for results, favorable mortgage and extended social package, paid training and internships, clear career path and modern hybrid schedule. These measures are already working, for example, in Singapore, New Zealand, Korea, and are having an effect,” the expert emphasized.

In conclusion, commenting on the thesis about the “renaissance of the culture of service”, Kirill Chernovol expressed doubts about its unconditional truthfulness. “Talks about the “culture of service” intensified after 2022, but the fact that 45% of civil servants call themselves unprofessional, half complain about shifting responsibility, and a quarter do not see a career future show that such talks can be “embellished” in favor of social desirability, while the priority is material incentives and working conditions,” the expert explained.

Thursday, 05.06.2025