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In ex-USSR you need to account for a drastic change of world that 40+ years old had to live through, complete change of world views and moral, loss of social an
by ivanhoe 8y ago
In ex-USSR you need to account for a drastic change of world that 40+ years old had to live through, complete change of world views and moral, loss of social and financial security, and all other horrors of transition period. Very few people got out of it feeling better. As old people die and younger generations replace them I presume that the graph will start to look more and more like the other countries.
- jondubois 8y agoThe collapse of communism opened up significant opportunities for wealth accumulation, but this mostly benefited younger people who were ambitious and willing to bend the rules.
- antisthenes 8y agoThere is very little wealth accumulation happening in CIS countries post-collapse for the vast majority of people. The wealthy young are usually just children of wealthy adults, of whom there aren't many. There was a marginal uptrend in happiness and prosperity in the 2004-2008 era, when oil prices were high (for countries that had oil production), but mostly, inequality has been skyrocketing and salaries have been flat for a decade now if not more. Some countries have never really climbed out of poverty after the collapse of communism (Ukraine, Moldova, Tajikistan, etc.)
- sedachv 8y ago> ambitious and willing to bend the rules. Please don't call organized crime a "willingness to bend the rules."
- chriselles 8y agoAgreed and good point! 1991-2000 would have been a horrible time for the vast majority of Russians and citizens of former satellites. Civil freedoms may have improved, but not economic or health outcomes. Especially for late career or retirees.
- tasuki 8y ago1991-2000 was economically by far the best recent decade in my ex-USSR central european country.