Economy: The difference between the Crimean and Ukrainian pensioner striking – Sight

video appeared on the network, to which the Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, in response to a complaint by the pensioner from Feodosia on a small pension responded that “there is no money.” In fact the situation is not so critical: the authorities are still looking for opportunities to re-increase of pensions this year. And what would be the pension received Crimea pensioners, if the peninsula has remained a part of Ukraine?

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on the eve while interacting with the residents of Feodosia spoke about the lack of money for the indexation of pensions. So he replied to the complaint of a local resident of the “Pensions in the eight thousand”, which is impossible to live with the current “mad prices” in the region. According to a resident of the city, it does not even count the first promised indexation of 4%.

«Ukrainian pensioner on retirement are unable to pay even utility costs, not to mention the food purchase»

«pensions will be engaged in the country. We can not do just one place … Her retirement (indexed) does not, we do not take it at all. Just do not have the money now, “- said Medvedev, and his companion called it a” fair “. “We will find the money – do indexing,” – said the prime minister and wished the residents of the “good mood”. Video from this conversation was leaked online and has caused a great resonance.

The Kremlin, in turn, refused to comment on Medvedev’s statement about the lack of funds in the budget for the indexation of pensions. “In this case I would not consider it correct to comment on the decision of the government and especially the head of the cabinet; I will leave this question without comment, “- said the president’s press secretary Dmitry Peskov. He stressed that the issue of pensions – “it is a matter of government, it has the broadest powers»

Later, press. Prime Minister Secretary Natalya Timakova explained the misunderstanding arose. She recalled that this year the government has already indexed pensions by 4% (at the beginning of the year), “and at the same time Prime Minister said that the economic results of the first half of the year will be decided on the second indexing by 4%.” Until such a decision is not, but no one took the decision to cancel the second indexing. “There are still six weeks to assess the socio-economic situation, the work is, the government continues to assess the possibility of a second doindeksatsii pensions”, – she said.

The legislation provides for the indexing of pensions on the actual level of inflation. In 2015 it amounted to 12.9%. However, in 2016 due to the economic situation of a pension for the first time in many years they will be indexed below inflation – a maximum of 8%, with the worst-case scenario – a smaller percentage, but not less than 4% (which has already taken place). At the same time Medvedev has promised to make every effort to return to the normal indexation of pensions in 2017.

Of course, 8 thousand rubles -. It is not too large sum. However, what would happen to Ukrainian pensioners if Crimea and remained a part of Ukraine? What would then receive a pension the elderly residents of the peninsula?

The average pension in Ukraine is currently 1670 hryvnia, or 4,462 rubles. For comparison, in Russia the average pension was equal to 12 397 rubles in March 2016, that is almost three times higher. Ukrainian authorities have promised indexation of pensions this year, and even speech are not about to increase its proportion to inflation. And in Ukraine in the past two years, prices are not just rising, the country in fact there is hyperinflation. Only the official price increase of almost 25% in 2014, and in 2015 altogether 43%. In Russia, inflation is too high, but at times less: in 2014 – 11.4%, in 2015 – 12.9%.

However, the comparison of the average pension is not always correct, it would be more fair to compare income with expenditure in each country. The main costs incurred by pensioners – it is public utilities and buying food.

The Russian housing and communal services are maximum 126 rubles per square meter of housing, according to federal standards. Thus, the maximum cost of housing and communal services for one-room apartment of 35 square meters. m will be 4410 rubles. If we eliminate all subsidies and benefits for pensioners living alone, the costs for housing services can make the most of a third of the average pension of 12 400 rubles, or slightly more than half at a lower pension in 8 th. Rubles. Of course, for pensioners is already a significant cost item.

However, the Russian pensioner is still in a position to pay the maximum rate of HUS, and he still remains on other items of expenditure. The Ukrainian retired on his pension is not even able to pay utility bills.

So, according to an expert of the “Ukrainian choice” Alexander Koltunovicha, taking into account the raised tariffs for a number of utility services in May 2016, living in a studio apartment during the heating season will have to pay monthly an average of 2388 USD or 6380 rubles. “As a result, a single pensioner receiving the minimum pension in the amount of 1130 USD, paying the aforementioned utilities, the state should remain more 1258 UAH. The family of two pensioners are not overpower the proposed state tariffs. To pay the bill for communal, they still will be 128 UAH “, – considered Koltunovich. Even if the pensioner receives 1670 UAH (the average pension), it is still unable to fully pay the bill for utility services. In food from Ukrainian pensioners do not remain a penny.

Two years ago it was still possible to say that the Ukraine – it is cheaper for the life of the country than Russia, but now it is not. A small comparison of prices for basic food products in the Ukrainian and Russian Internet stores showed that the cost of products at least equaled, but as a maximum is higher than in Ukraine poorer than in richer Russia.

Thus, according to Ukrainian online store FreshMart, Harry’s wheat sandwich bread costs 118 rubles (44 USD) against 80 rubles in the Russian online store “Platypus”.

In the Ukrainian store cheapest sausage cooked with cream worth 447 rubles (USD 167.4) per 0.6 kg against 198 rubles for half a kilo of the cheapest doctoral sausage in “platypus.” Even more high-quality doctoral sausage in a protein shell “Rublevskaya” in Russia are cheaper – 330 rubles per 560 grams. Ground coffee Lavazza Rossa in Ukraine is 417 rubles (156 USD) per 250 grams against 374 rubles for the same coffee in a package of 200 grams. Striking price for the same coffee beans and only in multiples of 1 kg: price in the Ukraine in 1776 rubles (665 USD), in Russia – 1475 rubles.

Even an inexpensive product like sugar in the Russian store a little cheaper – up to 1 kg is necessary to lay out 51.30 ruble and the Ukrainian product – 53.4 rubles (20 USD), but for less volume – 800 grams. But kilogram of wheat flour and a dozen eggs in the Ukrainian store you can buy for a few rubles cheaper than in Russia (if we take as a comparison of the cheapest goods in a particular category). As you can see, spending on food Ukrainians and Russians should be approximately at the same level.

Therefore, no matter how the inhabitants of the Crimea complained that after the transition to the hryvnia for the ruble has risen life on the peninsula, we can say with certainty that the prices in their stores were not below and while maintaining the hryvnia calculation. That’s only in contrast to the Ukrainian citizens, pensions and salaries in the Crimea after the annexation to Russia rose to the national average, which was originally higher, levels.