Agric. Econ. - Czech, 2007, 53(1):36-44 | DOI: 10.17221/846-AGRICECON

Some comparisons across Central and East European countries in terms the rural population living standard

M. Vavrejnova, S. Lüpsik

¹ Economics Institute of the Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic

² National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland

In this paper, we describe and compare the employment, wages and prices in the agricultural and other rural sectors in Central and East European countries. Together, we point out the lack of statistical information limiting the possibilities of the comparison. We comment the marked decrease in both production and employment in these sectors during the transition period. Together with low wages and the unfavourable development of the relation between the purchase and producer prices, this situation causes the retardation in the growth of the living standard of the rural population, in comparison with other sectors of the national economy. Therefore, the necessity of restructuring agricultural production arises, and first of all, the multifunctional character of the agriculture and the development of non-agricultural activities must be supported by the rural municipalities. It concerns, of course in different rates, all discussed countries.

Keywords: rural population, employment, income and price level, living standard

Published: January 31, 2007  Show citation