Pension Systems of Central Asian States

Abstract

Orientation towards the formation of the Eurasian socio-economic space implies the coordination of social policy, including in the field of pension provision. The harmonization of pension systems involves an analysis of the conditions for the formation and main parameters, the identification of common features and differences, and the determination of development prospects. The key problems of pension systems in the countries of Central Asia are the limited coverage of working people with pension insurance combined with a low basis for calculating pension contributions. The demographic factor plays a dual role in the functioning of pension systems. The countries of the region are characterized by a low proportion of older populations coupled with high rates of aging. At the present stage this can be seen as a demographic bonus, but in the long term it will become a serious challenge for the sustainability of pension systems. The situation is aggravated by the high migration outflow of the able-bodied population. One of the ways to increase the stability of pension systems can be to increase the role of state pensions – the development of the state system of social protection of pensioners as the main link in the pension system supplemented by private insurance and funded payments.