Increase in retirement age in Russia: for and against

One of the most urgent social problems in theRussia, which worries most of the population, is the government's recent announcement that by 2020 it is planned to gradually increase the retirement age to 63-65 years. The debate over whether it is worthwhile to introduce such unpopular measures does not cease long ago. To understand the essence of changes in the Russian pension system, it is necessary to study the arguments put forward by both sides and understand whether there is any sense in transforming the existing legislation on this topic.

To date, the age at which Russiansleave workplaces and go on a well-deserved rest, is 60 years for men (this period can be reduced due to difficult working conditions) and 55 years for women (for them it is also possible to change the age for a smaller party). The increase in retirement age implies retirement for both sexes at 63 years.

According to supporters of this decision,this will help in the future to reduce the burden on the economy of the state and on the working part of the population, since in a few years the ratio of pensioners and working people will become such that it will not be possible to maintain even the current level of pensions.

To avoid a collapse of the economy, you can chooseone of three ways out: to increase the interest rates of contributions to the pension fund, to increase the birth rate, so that the number of working people exceeds the number of pensioners, or raise the retirement age. According to the heads of economic agencies, raising rates will not be able to cover all the necessary expenses and will force many employers to start paying out "gray" salaries. To increase the birth rate instantly - a priori utopian idea, therefore, the optimal way out of this economic impasse is to increase the retirement age in Russia.

As for the position of opponents likeactions on the part of the state, it relies mainly on the existing standard of living in the country. Since for most Russians retirement is accompanied by a sharp deterioration in it, many of them continue to work. This, in the opinion of opponents of this measure, should help to avoid raising the retirement age. Russia will have to reconcile itself to the fact that citizens will have to work for some time after 60 years, but eventually, when the demographic situation becomes more stable, pensioners will be able to stay at home after 60 years of age.

In addition, an important argument in the dispute isthe fact that according to statistical data, the average age of death of men in Russia is just about the age limit of 60 years. Consequently, an increase in the retirement age does not help to improve the state of affairs in the country's economy - there will be simply nobody to work after retirement. In addition, the state of health of citizens to date is such that many of them will be able to "outwit" the state, and with the adoption of the law in question will simply make out an appropriate disability pension.

Another reason not to take this decisionserves also the fact that the majority of today's working citizens who are at pre-retirement age are not competitive in the modern labor market, and, consequently, they will not be able to find a job.

In other words, an increase in the retirement age inRussia is not only an extremely unpopular measure that will immediately destroy the ratings of the politician who will risk implementing this idea. This is still a largely meaningless idea, the embodiment of which can entail an even greater number of problems in the economy than exists at the present moment.