Prosperity in Romania: rich and poor likewise

In all countries of the former Eastern bloc the regional disparities in welfare were relatively small during the communist regime. With the turnaround also the income differential rose: the broken heavy industry produced unmeployment, in rural areas were no earnings possible with agricultural products and the well paid jobs concentrated on the capital city.

The disparity in welfare in CEE countries is about twice as high as in Western Europe, however even there differences between the countries occur (model students are the Scandinavian countries, Italy for example has a high regional disparity).

A typical example for the development described is Romania: in hardly no other country in Europe the regional disparities in welfare are that high. Prosperous urban elites on the one hand are opposing a large number of people with very low income in rural areas.

Whereas the people in the ten largest cities have a disposable income of about 3.500 €, those from 1.500 municipalities have to get along with much less than 2.000 €. And this differential increases. Rural flight and minor educational offers and jobs aggravate the situation.