The World Bank has published an analysis of Croatia’s pension system, identifying challenges such as a low ratio of workers to pensioners, short working careers, and a low average retirement age. Proposed measures include gradually raising the retirement age to 72, reducing early retirements, and improving pension indexation. The analysis emphasizes the need for reforms to ensure the long-term sustainability and adequacy of pensions, including the possible abolition or mandatory reintroduction of the second pension pillar. The European Commission also supports gradually increasing the retirement age. The expected healthy life expectancy after age 65 in Croatia is significantly lower than the EU average, which complicates the situation further. Raising the retirement age is considered the most effective measure to improve the pension support ratio.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning outlets tend to emphasize the social challenges posed by the pension system, such as the risk of poverty among the elderly and the need for social protection. They may be critical of raising the retirement age too high, highlighting the impact on workers with physically demanding jobs and the importance of maintaining adequate pension benefits.
Center: Center-leaning sources focus on the factual analysis provided by the World Bank and the European Commission’s recommendations. They present the pension system challenges and proposed reforms in a balanced manner, emphasizing the need for sustainability and adequacy of pensions while acknowledging demographic and economic constraints.
Right: Right-leaning media emphasize fiscal responsibility and the necessity of reforms to ensure the pension system’s sustainability. They support measures like increasing the retirement age and reducing early retirements as essential to maintaining the system’s viability and reducing the burden on the working population.
