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Optimism prevails in Eastern Europe, says EBRD-World Bank study
But reform challenges remain across region
People across Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Bloc are
optimistic about their future even though a majority still feel worse off than
when communism collapsed, according to a new EBRD-World Bank survey. It also
revealed that this region was embracing the market economy over the state
planning it replaced.
The Life in Transition survey (LiTs) analyses public attitudes, well-being and
the impact of economic and political change across 28 of the countries where
the EBRD operates, plus Turkey. A total of 29,000 people were surveyed (1,000
per country), which also assessed the impact of crime and corruption on
peoples’ lives.
People across the region are largely more positive today than when they lived
under the command system, with the majority, especially among the young,
strongly supporting democracy and market economies. More people are more
satisfied with their lives today than are not satisfied, and a majority – 54
per cent – believe children born today will have a better life than their
parents’ generation.
But only 30 per cent of people believe their households live better today than
they did in 1989, the year the Berlin Wall fell. Furthermore, disparities in
wealth are emerging, especially when comparing urban and rural populations.
Survey findings also identify that corruption and the level of distrust in
society are much worse than they were under communist rule.
In Russia, attitudes toward the country depend largely on demographics. People
most positive about the country today are the young (18-34yrs), with the
majority satisfied with their living standards and income. Across all age
gaps, however, an overwhelming majority believe that there is more corruption
now than there was in1989.
Erik Berglof, EBRD Chief Economist, said in the early years of transition,
when most countries went through a deep recession, many people suffered severe
hardship. Still today large parts of the population, particularly among the
elderly and in rural areas, are struggling to make ends meet. But there is
also a budding optimism across Russia and the whole EBRD region, especially
among the young and the educated, said Mr Berglof.
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