Contract better than money

On the one hand, annual price increases for services of monopolists is very annoying. No one business can not rely on the fact that he is guaranteed revenue growth without any effort – simply because the government ordered consumers to pay more. On the other hand, under-funding of rail infrastructure on which all the time, recalls Railways – the truth. If nothing is done, then three years later railroads could not carry 230 million tons of cargo, or 20% of today's load, which would limit the growth of GDP at 1.9%, calculated Institute of Natural Monopolies. And will continue to get worse. True, in recent years prices rose Railways and the state of infrastructure and rolling stock to deteriorate. It is obvious that the current tariff system is flawed: consumers pay more, and the railroad complain louder. Indexation of tariffs based on the principle "cost plus". Because of what any savings, in effect, punished – since removed to index next year. Railways have simply no incentives to introduce new technologies that save resources and to update the fixed assets. Problem and that rates are set each year in the course of bargaining, it is impossible to predict. Uncertainty is very slow investment. In a lot of hidden fees and costs of opaque varieties of cross-subsidies – in fact, rail plays in our economy function of income redistribution between sectors and regions, which is not normal. Expert Group, which adjusts the development strategy of Russia up to 2020, suggests that the State railway switch from a contract system, which is very reasonable. The agreement must be concluded for a period of not less than five years, it shall be determined by growth rates, investment priorities, scope of services Railways and funding sources. All car news