Socio-economic model: Gradual dismantling of the ‘Belarusian social state’

The Belarusian authorities continued reducing social obligations vis-a-vis the population while preserving the economic model based on state ownership. The state policy aimed to strip the population of excess income, including currency savings, in order to replenish the budget and service the public debt. For instance, the government introduced customs duty on international mail worth more than EUR 22, increased housing and communal services tariffs, froze average wage growth, reduced household incomes and introduced a tax on ‘social parasitism’.

In addition, in order to replenish the international reserves, the state encouraged the population to preserve a steady consumption level by spending their currency savings.

The Belarusian authorities decided against an advocacy campaign to promote positive image of the pension reform aiming to reduce pension benefits. The retirement age was increased by a presidential decree without a public debate due to the extreme unpopularity of this measure and fears of the authorities that publicity could have the opposite effect and drop the state institutions’ ratings.