Abstract
AbstractThis chapter considers pension protection and social services in the post-Soviet space as forms of social policy that can protect older people from risks of social exclusion. We draw on the example of two countries, Russia and Ukraine, which share a common Soviet background. Until relatively recently, both countries held a similar position with regard to the pension protection and social security of old people. However, recent reforms in the area of pensions and social services have generated various possible ways for the development of both countries. In Ukraine, pension reform took place in 2017, and can be described as “softer” in comparison with the Russian version. Ukrainian reform does not involve raising the retirement age, but rather increases the length of service required to retire. Pension reform in Russia has been taking place before our eyes, in 2018–2019. It assumes a sharp rise in the retirement ages for men and women. In addition to addressing pension reform, the chapter considers in more detail social services for older people in Russia and Ukraine. In broad terms, the chapter seeks to answer the following question: How do modern pension reforms and the structure of social services in the post-Soviet space (for example, Russia and Ukraine) affect the social exclusion of older people?
Highlights
Various approaches currently exist to conceptualising and measuring social exclusion (Burchardt and Le Grand 2002; Walsh et al 2017)
Post-Soviet countries illustrate the complexity of challenges relating to social exclusion, as later life in these countries is marked by relatively poor health, low life expectancies, and reduced quality of life
Turning to the case of policy relating to social exclusion of older people in Ukraine, a useful starting point is that expenditure attributed to people of pensionable age represents over 50% of the total Ukrainian social security budget
Summary
Various approaches currently exist to conceptualising and measuring social exclusion (Burchardt and Le Grand 2002; Walsh et al 2017). The vertical class stratification has been replaced by a horizontal differentiation that distinguishes insiders from outsiders (Abrahamson 2001) In this sense, both individuals and specific groups of people may experience forms of social exclusion (Levitas et al 2007). The social status of older people, in the post-Soviet space, is characterised by multiple structural barriers that prevent them from enjoying an active lifestyle. Older people can become marginalised through financial insecurity, and through loss of social contacts linked to the workplace and a reduced ability to socialise with friends and family. The latter is of growing relevance as a result of strong family nuclearisation (Eliseeva and Kletsin 2010)
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