Inequality Problems in Central and Eastern Europe

Gyorgy Andor
Eotvos Lorand University, Institute of Business Economics; Neumann Janos University, Faculty of Economics and Business; Budapest, Hungary
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31410/eraz.2018.22

4th International Conference – ERAZ 2018 – KNOWLEDGE BASED SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, Sofia- Bulgaria, June 7, 2018, CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS published by: Association of Economists and Managers of the Balkans, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Business Studies, Mediterranean University – Podgorica, Montenegro; University of National and World Economy – Sofia, Bulgaria; Faculty of Commercial and Business Studies – Celje, Slovenia; Faculty of Applied Management, Economics and Finance – Belgrade, Serbia, ISBN 978-86-80194-12-7

Abstract

In this paper, the evolution of income inequality in five Central and Eastern European (CEE) post-socialist countries, members of the European Union (EU) – the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia – is examined. The similarities of political and economic changes in these countries allow an integrated analysis of their income inequality developments. Moreover, as these countries represent a unique group around the border between high-income and upper-middle-income countries, the paper can also contribute to the debate on inequality in countries at different levels of economic development. It focuses on several relating and often contradictory theories and empirical evidence from the past few years, trying to offer a comprehensive picture of the progress of inequality in this region.
After a short introduction, the theories about the relationship between inequality and growth are summarized. Then the empirical evidence about income inequality in CEE countries is presented and compared with EU-wide data. Finally, some concluding remarks close the paper.

Key words

Inequality; Economic growth; Central and Eastern Europe

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