Pajamų nelygybė ir skurdas Lietuvoje

• Alytaus kolegija: leidinio tekstas

• Kreišmonienė, Jolanta
• Leonavičienė, Jūratė

LTStraipsnyje analizuojama pajamų nelygybės ir skurdo Lietuvoje situacija 2018–2021 metais. Nors Lietuvos ekonomika pastaraisiais metais buvo priskiriama prie sparčiausiai augančių Europoje, tačiau pajamų nelygybė šalyje buvo ir tebėra viena didžiausių Europos Sąjungoje, 2020 m. kas 5 šalies gyventojas gyveno žemiau skurdo rizikos lygio. Viena iš pagrindinių pajamų nelygybės priežasčių yra įvardijamas didelis pajamų atotrūkis tarp asmenų, kurių pagrindinis pajamų šaltinis yra socialinės išmokos, ir likusių šalies gyventojų. Europos Komisija labiausiai pajamų nelygybės Lietuvoje didėjimą lemiančiomis priežastimis įvardija ribotą mokesčių sistemos progresyvumą bei socialinės apsaugos silpnumą, t.y. žemą socialinių išmokų ir paslaugų finansavimą. Atsižvelgiant į Europos Komisijos rekomendacijas, Vyriausybė imasi įvairių veiksmų, tačiau mokesčių ir socialinių išmokų sistemos veiksmingumas vis dar yra ribotas, skurdas Lietuvoje turi potencialą didėti ir toliau, pajamų atotrūkis tarp turtingiausių ir neturtingiausių žmonių išlieka aukštas, o planuojamų įgyvendinti pažangos priemonių realius rezultatus galėsime vertinti ateinančiais metais. [Iš leidinio]

ENThe article analyzes the situation of income inequality and poverty in Lithuania in recent years. In order to achieve the aim of the report, the analysis of scientific literature, analysis of empirical studies and statistical data, comparative analysis, systematization, and generalization was performed. Researchers‘ insights are analyzed, and research and statistics are conducted. The article seeks to reveal the content of the concepts of income inequality and poverty, the methods of determining the level of income inequality and poverty, the dynamics of Lithuania in recent years according to the currently available indicators of poverty and inequality, the impact of the pandemic and quarantine on the distribution of income among the population, and what measures are planned to reduce income inequality and poverty. Although the Lithuanian economy has been one of the fastest-growing in Europe in recent years, income inequality has remained one of the largest in the European Union. In 2020, every 5th inhabitant of the country lived below the at-risk-of-poverty rate. The most vulnerable in Lithuania to the risk of poverty are the unemployed, single people, single parents raising children, old-age pensioners, people with disabilities, large families, and children. In 2020, compared to 2019, the at-risk-of-poverty rate for many groups increased or remained similar. One of the main reasons for income inequality is the large income gap between those whose primary source of income is social benefits and the rest of the country‘s population. The pandemic worsened the labor market situation, with the average unemployment rate standing at 8.5 percent in 2020 and household consumption spending falling by 1.5 percent. The measures taken to manage Covid-19 have mainly affected the unemployed, the less educated, and small entrepreneurs who earn income from self-employment, both financially and emotionally.A more pronounced deterioration was observed at the beginning of the pandemic when revenues fell, but the situation returned to normal over time. Women were more vulnerable than men due to the unequal distribution of work at home and in more affected sectors or occupations. Young people are also among the most vulnerable due to declining labor demand, with their unemployment rate almost doubling in 2020. The European Commission identifies the limited progressiveness of the tax system and the weakness of social security as the main reasons for the increase in income inequality in Lithuania, i.e., low funding for social benefits and services. Taking into account the concerns and recommendations of international organizations regarding high-income inequality in Lithuania, measures have been taken: a review of tax benefits has been initiated, and a development program for reducing income inequality in the Ministry of Social Security and Labor of the Republic of Lithuania for 2021-2030 has been approved.Cooperation between the Ministry of Social Security and Labor and the Ministry of Finance is envisaged to increase the level of social benefits and the progressiveness of the tax system. Good social benefits and pensions, increasing the employment of vulnerable groups, reducing the prevalence of stereotypes about the roles of women and men in the family and society, improving measures to combat illegal and undeclared work, and increasing the productivity of the farm structure to create higher added value. It is planned to focus not only on the application of progress measures but also on monitoring their effectiveness and integrating them into policy decisions. [From the publication]