12.08.2017, Ukraine.
The high share of food in Ukrainians’ expenses is due to the fact that they eat too much, Ukraine’s Minister of Social Policy, Andrey Reva, said on August 10, the RIA Novosti news agency reports.
The official’s statement was a reply to journalists who asked him to explain why the share of food in the expenses of Germans was only 14 percent, while for Ukrainians this figure was 50 percent.
Answering this question, Reva explained, “The fact that Germans spend 14 percent while we spend 50 percent is a matter of priorities. For my father, having a good meal was a priority all his life. He believed that one could sacrifice anything else but not good healthy food. Our people have a historical tradition caused by Holodomors [alleged forced famines ― Editor] and wars, which gave us a different attitude to food than in other countries.”
According to the Ukrainian minister, the share of food expenses in Germany is lower “not because they are lacking the opportunity but because of their culture”. However, Reva did not mention the difference in average income between Ukrainians and Germans.
According to the International Monetary Fund, in 2016 the purchasing power parity GDP per capita in Ukraine was $8,305 while in Germany it was $48,111. This is the reason why the structure of expenses is different between the residents of the two countries.
Also, in the recent years, the well-being of Ukrainians has significantly worsened. Experts explain this by the economic crisis lasting since 2014, as well as reforms made by the Ukrainian authorities that have caused a sharp rise in utility costs, and high inflation.
According to the Zn.ua portal, Ukrainians’ real disposable income dropped by 11.5 percent and by 22.2 percent in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
