The pension reform of 2018 caused serious changes in the labor relations system, in forming the country’s budget and sensitized the public opinion in respect of the real state of the Russian economy. For citizens, this resulted in a large-scale offensive on the retirement age, which, after previously prepared intervention by V.V. Putin, was adjusted in an acceptable manner. The problem of the citizens’ pension age is brought to the fore. Is it part of a prepared strategy or is it an answer to a demographic question (aging and longevity at the same time, lack of money for retirement pension payments)?

Many different opinions on the prospects of the Russian economy were expressed by the last economic year results: from restrained-optimistic to very pessimistic ones. At the Davos forum our representatives (from government and big business) as usual (learned) in a businesslike tone not admitting objections were speaking for some reason to the whole world about the internal developments of the Russian Federation and the problems, which are not of interest to anyone but ourselves. It is practically impossible to draw up conclusions from these statements about how we will ensure sustainable development and what role we define for Russian economy in the world economic system. Nevertheless, let’s look at the situation from a viewpoint of non-economist.