How people live in Eastern Europe
How people live in Eastern Europe

Summary/Abstract: Systematic information on the structure of transformation in Eastern Europe is now forthcoming. The main outlines are known-the collapse of communism, the introduction of democracy, marketisation, the economic hardships-but what are the precise contents of these changes for the people who experience them? So far, we have had to rely on journalistic reports but it is difficult to know how representative these are of the overall patterns and trends of change. It takes time to undertake research and collect statistics, in particular during turmoil such as is current throughout Eastern Europe. Although there are still enormous blank areas on the map and much uncertainty in the available data, we can now start to report what is happening as seen from the life experiences of those who are living through it. The reader will bear with me for piling up statistical data; the story now emerging is one of such drama that it needs to be told in hard facts in order to be absorbed.

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