Malofeev: “A pension-free society will encourage childbirth” — Controversial proposal under debate

A recently voiced idea in Russia has sparked heated public debate. Konstantin Malofeev, founder of the “Tsargrad” media holding and a businessman, proposed in his statement to abolish the pension system for Russians born after 1995. According to him, the hope for a state-guaranteed pension has become one of the main reasons why the younger generation is postponing starting a family and having many children.

“Pension replaced children” — Malofeev’s radical opinion

Malofeev took a firm position on this issue:
“Today, many young people pin their hopes on a government pension in old age. That’s why they are postponing childbirth and family creation. However, if we completely relieve them of the expectation of a pension, they will think about their future and strive to have children while still young,” he emphasized.

The businessman also stated that in the Russian Empire, pensions were provided only for certain social groups, and that on average, each woman gave birth to seven children.
“After the revolution, the concept of ‘universal equality’ pulled women into the labor market, reducing the number of children. Later, personal freedom, consumerism, and money took first place. As a result, the number of children per woman dropped to 1.4,” he said.

The “abolish pensions” proposal — understandable yet questionable

According to Malofeev’s concept, collecting pension contributions from citizens born after 1995 could be stopped in ten years. The funds that were previously withheld could be returned, and young people would then bear full responsibility for their own future after the age of 30:
“If they want, let them save money, if they want, let them have children.”

Federation Council — pension is guaranteed by the Constitution

In response to this statement, the head of the Federation Council Committee, Andrey Klishas, reminded that social security for Russian citizens is a right enshrined in the Constitution. He stressed that such initiatives are not only impractical but also violate the law.

Demographic problems awaiting Russia

Behind Malofeev’s harsh stance toward youth lies another serious issue facing Russia — the problem of demographic decline. According to official data, by the 2050s, the retirement age in Russia could increase to 80 years due to a sharp decline in population. According to Rosstat, between 2023 and 2026 alone, Russia is expected to lose 12.7 million people due to deaths outnumbering births.

By the 2040s, the proportion of children and adolescents is expected to shrink from 26% to 20%. At the same time, the number of pensioners will rise from 24.5% to 26.9%. In such a scenario, the burden on the state budget and pressure on the social security system are likely to increase significantly.

In conclusion, Malofeev’s idea of abolishing pensions has raised many questions and doubts in society. Some see it as a decisive step aimed at improving the demographic situation, while others consider it a violation of human rights and social justice. Solving the problem of population growth in Russia is an extremely complex issue, and such radical approaches require broad public discussion. Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!