Rector of the New Economic School Ruben Enikolopov. Archival photoMOSCOW, April 30The calls of European leaders to save to reduce dependence on Russia will be laughed at: savings will happen by themselves for other reasons — due to the increase in the cost of resources, an economist, rector of the Russian School of Economics (NES) Ruben Enikolopov. Against the backdrop of the situation in Ukraine, European leaders have recently often urged residents of their countries to save money in order to reduce dependence on Russian coal, oil and gas imports: for example, politicians are advised to heat buildings less, draw curtains, because this keeps you warm, as well as use cars less by taking trains and bicycles.Germany has found an unusual «way» to save electricity»Let's be honest, it won't be possible to maintain our level of consumption. European calls will also make me laugh a little, it doesn't work that way. Savings in Europe will happen for other reasons — energy prices have skyrocketed, and ten people once they think about whether to take a car for a walk or not, because the price tag of the trip has changed.In the 1970s, when there was an oil crisis, American cars changed dramatically — they became energy efficient, and this happened not because there was a call: «People, love the environment!», but through prices,» he said. People respond to economic incentives, when something becomes more expensive, less is consumed, so if energy becomes expensive, they begin to save it, Enikolopov argues. And such an effect, in his opinion, will be in Europe. «The government, of course, can suggest where exactly you can save money, but people themselves are not fools — they will figure it out,» he adds. It's the same in Russia, notes the NES rector. “People themselves, without any exhortation from the government, understand that they need to tighten up, the previous level of consumption cannot be maintained, there is no need to increase stocks now — this can be done when you have a temporary crisis and you can wait it out, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Now there is no special light, in in any case, the tunnel is very long. You just need to restructure your consumption, reduce your requests and learn how to save,» he concluded. washing to save energy
