The Politics of Retirement Age Increase in Russia: Proposals, Protests and Concessions

Abstract

The article discusses the changes to the Russian pension system since 2013, focusing specifically on the most recent policy moves. It argues that, despite the apparent instability of the Russian pension system caused by numerous policy shifts that have occurred since 2015, one element has remained constant: since the early 1990s the transformation of the Russian pension system has been driven primarily by neoliberal economic advisers to the Russian government. Passage of the long-delayed decision to raise the retirement age, which provoked large-scale protests, can be understood in light of the current geopolitical and economic risks that complicate the future of Russian economy.

Class, culture and political representation of the native in Russia and East Central Europe: Paving the way for the New Right?

“…Economic inequality in today's Russia is one of the greatest in the world (Matveev, 2021), but it is only recently that it has become a matter of public concern. Large-scale social protest in Russia is rare and limited to major crises precipitated by particularly bold neoliberal reforms, such as the 'monetisation of benefits' in 2005 and the pension reform in 2018 (Maltseva, 2019). Low-key labour protests occur all the time but are easily neutralised by local authorities, who often side with workers against the employers on minor issues while keeping the system intact (Kulaev, 2020).…”

Social Policy on Social Media: How Opposition Actors Used Twitter and VKontakte to Oppose the Russian Pension Reform

“…Not surprisingly, the announcement triggered broad popular discontent, with surveys showing between 80 and 90 percent of citizens to be opposed to the plans. A petition gathered about 2 million signatures in three days (Olimpieva 2018), while trade unions and opposition actors organized protests across the country in July and September 2018 (see Maltseva 2019). 1 In August, Putin announced some concessions, bringing the new retirement age for women from 63 down to 60 years (Kremlin.ru 2018), and signed the bill into law on October 3, 2018.…”