NEWSWATCH: “Pension reform” – BMB Russia/Aaron Schwartzbaum
“… Russian authorities have been dithering on the pension system literally for year. … [R]egardless of the character of a loss of benefits, pension reform is exactly that: a loss of benefits. … [T[here is another center-periphery dynamic at play …. The average life expectancy has … increased on average … predominantly [for] … middle-class or wealthy urban dwellers. The reform also shatters some notions of what the state ought to do …. Putin will continue to bide his time, especially with most of Russia to go on vacation …. the second reading of Duma bills is the one before which most significant changes are made. That will be his opportunity to get his hands dirty and make his pay. …”