For every 100 who receive a pension, there are just 79 workers who pay the contributions to pay them. It happens in the Oristano area, which enters the top ten (ninth place) of the provinces that weigh the most on the coffers of the national social security system . On the podium there are three Calabrian territories: in Reggio and Catanzaro there are just 67 paychecks for every 100 pensioners, followed by Crotone with 72.

Numbers that need to worry. For the current situation, given that the poor numbers in the south bring the national ratio between workers and retirees to 1.11. And above all in perspective: the population is ageing, the birth rate is at historic lows and no trend reversals are foreseen, the employment rate is not much more vital. It means one thing: in the immediate future there may not be enough "active subjects" to pay the pensions of those who have finished their work cycle.

We need to dispel a false myth: the deductions and taxes paid by everyone are not used to guarantee one's subsequent pension treatment (unless it is a question of supplementary funds), but to subsidize the current one. Effect of the "pay-as-you-go" system currently in force.

Of course, INPS pays no attention to territorial distribution. But looking at the numbers, one point is clear: the employed in the north pay the pensions of the south: in 39 provinces the number of pensioners exceeds that of the employed.

And Sardinia is in the middle. There is the almost extreme case of Oristano. Then Nuoro, with 82 employees for every 100 pensioners. In Sassari the trend reverses: 102 work (always for every 100 retirees), while in the province of Cagliari the ratio is 103 to 100. Better than the national average, but far below the more "industrious" areas (although it also affects seniority of the population): 162 work in Bolzano to guarantee 100 pensions, 148 in Prato, 147 in Trento.

(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)