The social function of Russian Post in the condition of transition to the market economy (1991-2002)

At the beginning of 1990s. most of the companies and organizations had faced with difficulties associated with the transition to new market relations. The Post wasn't the exception, so Post had to quickly adapt their policy to the changing conditions. The Post, as a public institution, practically had been equated with commercial organizations. In the first place the postal sector should carry out its important public and social function, which is to guarantee communication between people by the provision of high-quality postal services. The high-quality postal services it is affordability of services, territorial accessibility of post offices and a high rate of delivery. But in the instability of early 1990s, formally remaining as a government structure, the Post began to look for a way out and try to make a profit, thus replacing the original communication goals by others, facing towards the organization in the field of production and trade. The support and development of the social sphere and post had been put to the background because of political and economic instability of the 1990s. There are several reasons that have led to a sizeable reduction of post income: First, the partitioning in 1993 the communications sector to the post and telecommunications. Second, the reduction of a part of deductions from pensions delivery from 7% to 1.5%. Third, the abolition of the state postal monopoly in some postal services. Fourth, a significant decrease of post transport. In the end, the totality of the above reasons caused the reduction of post income. As a result, post had to raise prices for its services, as well as begin to close the unprofitable post offices. However, these measures did not improve the situation with the postal unprofitableness, so the Post has become actively develop non-core activities to the prejudice of the traditional services.Thus, in 1991-2002 the Post had met several difficulties: manage the sector with old methods became impossible and new ways of management have not been tested yet. Adapting to the new market conditions inevitably led to reduced of post incomes, which affected the quality of services. Having overcome the crisis, post had reached a new level, meanwhile maintaining its branched network of post offices and adding new services, with satisfied the growing needs of society in quality postal services.

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