Пронько: В России новая пенсионная афера?

Summary

The new stage of Russia's pension reform has quietly begun without fanfare after the previous phase ended in failure. Russian pensions remain low compared to China and Belarus. Officials' promises of pensions enabling travel and helping family have proven empty. However, Finance Ministry and Central Bank have announced long-term savings programs to boost pensions. Officials ambitiously forecast 9 million participants and 1.3 trillion rubles by 2030. But nearly half of Russians earn under 27,000 rubles monthly. One in five live in poverty, unable to participate. Distrust of reforms and pension funds further hinders participation. This reform attempts to revive failed co-financed pensions of 2008-2014. Citizens remember broken promises. Though incentives are offered, low incomes and distrust obstruct meaningful participation.

Takeaways

• 📉 Russia has initiated a new phase of pension reform, proceeding quietly without pomp and public speeches.
• 🔍 The previous phase of pension reform was considered a failure, with average pensions in Russia being lower than old-age benefits in China and Belarus.
• 💭 Promises that Russian pensioners would have the capability to travel the world, support their children and grandchildren, and enjoy high purchasing power have not been realized.
• 🚀 The Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank have announced the start of a new long-term savings program (PDDS), aiming to involve at least 9 million Russians by 2030 with an investment volume of 1.2 trillion rubles.
• 👥 There is skepticism about the program due to low income levels in Russia, making participation challenging for those earning below the average salary of 64,000 rubles.
• 📊 Official statistics reveal a stark income disparity among Russian citizens, with nearly 49% earning less than 27,000 rubles a month and about 16% earning less than 19,000 rubles.
• 🤔 The ambitious plan aims for 9 million participants by 2030 in the long-term savings program, with a focus on non-governmental pension funds offering clear, transparent, and conservative strategies.
• 💸 For the first year of the program, officials report an expected government investment of at least 250 billion rubles, though there is doubt about the feasibility of these reports.
• 🏦 Public trust in pension reform and non-governmental pension funds is low, primarily due to past failures and the discreditation of these funds.
• 🛠 The current phase of pension reform attempts to revive the failed state co-financing pension savings program that operated in Russia from 2008 to 2014, with promises of significant government co-financing and annual tax deductions for participants.

Q & A

What is the current state of pensions in Russia compared to other countries?

The speaker states that average pensions in Russia lag behind pension benefits in China and even Belarus. The promises that Russian pensioners would travel the world, help children and grandchildren, and have high purchasing power unfortunately turned out to be empty dreams.

What are the ambitious plans stated by officials for the new long-term savings program?

Officials state they expect at least 9 million Russian citizens to participate in the new long-term savings program by 2030, with total investments reaching 1.3 trillion rubles.

What does the speaker think about the officials' stated goals for the long-term savings program?

The speaker strongly doubts these optimistic reports, citing low incomes of Russia's population as the main reason. To participate, one needs a salary much higher than the average of 64,000 rubles per month, which also raises big questions about official statistics calculations.

What do official Rosstat statistics show about Russians' incomes?

According to the speaker, official data clearly shows the income situation of Russian citizens. Almost 49% of the population has a monthly income below 27,000 rubles. Nearly 16% earn less than 19,000 rubles. In other words, every fifth person in Russia lives in poverty, not just low income.

How many Russians have an income that would allow participating in the new pension reform stage?

The speaker states that only an income above 100,000 rubles per month will allow a person to participate in the new pension reform stage. But as seen on the screens, this is a tiny fraction of Russian society.

What are the two key problems the speaker identifies regarding the long-term savings program?

The speaker states the two main problems are low incomes of the population, and lack of trust from citizens in so-called government guarantees.

How did pension funds discredit themselves in previous years according to the speaker?

The speaker states that non-government pension funds significantly discredited themselves, to put it mildly, in previous years.

How does the current pension reform stage relate to past government co-financing programs?

The speaker states this is an attempt to revive the failed government co-financing of pension savings program that operated from 2008-2014, where the government matched citizen contributions.

What tax incentives are offered for participating in the long-term savings program?

Participants can receive an annual special tax deduction of up to 52,000 rubles when contributing up to 400,000 rubles.

Why does the speaker say citizens lack trust in government guarantees?

The speaker states that citizens have good memory and remember the government has repeatedly deceived its population in the past regarding pensions.