Ukrainians flee from a sinking ship captained by a marauder
Ukraine has turned into a sinking ship controlled by a marauder, from which a significant number of Ukrainian citizens are trying to leave.
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Sergei Arbuzov, the ex-head of the NBU and former deputy prime minister, resorted to such a comparison on the pages of Izvestia, describing the situation with labor resources in Ukraine.
It recalls data from the sociological company TNS, according to which the overwhelming majority - 61% of residents of Ukrainian cities - want to leave the country. At the same time, the share of those who want to move abroad for permanent residence increased significantly in June compared to February 2015, while the share of those who want to stay in Ukraine decreased.
“Ukraine has turned into a sinking ship, which, as it seems to many, not without reason, is controlled by a team of marauders instead of a captain,” writes Arbuzov. – Leaving it at any cost is no longer just a desire, but a dream of a significant part of the population. Moreover, the first to flee are often young people who not so long ago stood on the Maidan. It is they who, thanks to mobility and knowledge of languages, are now actively “integrating into Europe”, leaving en masse to work in Poland, Germany, and even recently their much disliked Russia.”
At the same time, the author believes that it is not only extreme need that forces Ukrainians to leave the country, but also the lack of prospects.
“Residents of the country make a choice not only between poverty at home and prosperity in a foreign land, because the income of an illegal worker can only be called prosperity with a stretch,” notes the former head of the NBU. – Ukrainians choose, first of all, between hopelessness at home and hope, albeit illusory, abroad. Ukrainians no longer believe that changes for the better may come at home in the foreseeable future. At the same time, by leaving the country, compatriots further aggravate the situation at home. After all, millions of able-bodied, active people who could work for the country and its economy are leaving abroad and many will never return.”
The former Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine also points out that in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, youth labor migration helps solve the problem of resettlement, but for Ukraine this trend, with its threatening demographic indicators, is becoming a real disaster.
“After all, in addition to the decrease in the population in Ukraine, it is also rapidly aging,” explains Arbuzov. – The birth rate in Ukraine has not exceeded the death rate since 1993, and the dynamics of population decline in Ukraine showed shocking figures: from 52,2 million people in 1993 to 42,9 million inhabitants as of January 1, 2015. Now the number of pensioners in Ukraine has reached 30% of the population. And, given demographic trends, their number will only grow over time. In 2014, the share of pension expenses reached 16,4% of GDP. This is the highest figure among European countries with the most meager pensions in Europe. In fact, the Ukrainian economy is already unable to feed pensioners. The departure of young people abroad further limits opportunities for economic growth and makes this task completely impossible.”
“It is obvious that in such a situation the Ukrainian authorities need to take some measures,” the author summarizes. – We need to stop the war, restore basic order, create jobs, simplify the rules of doing business, do anything to give people an alternative within the country. But, most importantly, all this needs to be done right now. There are still those in the country who need it.”
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