This book is a multifaceted examination of the nature of inequalities in CEE countries. While progress has been made, significant inequalities persist, and a deeper understanding of these challenges is essential to fostering meaningful action towards a more inclusive and prosperous future.
Written by scholars from two leading higher education institutions in Poland – the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń and the SGH Warsaw School of Economics – this comprehensive research monograph examines the disparities that shape the region and offers a nuanced understanding of their origins, manifestations, and consequences. Moving beyond simplistic narratives of post-communist transformation, the book analyses the contemporary realities of CEE, exploring socioeconomic, technological, and infrastructural disparities. It investigates inequalities in income, healthcare, education, energy access, public transport, innovation, and digital inclusion, revealing the vast differences within and between countries.
The book is an essential resource for anyone who wants to understand the complex realities of Central and Eastern Europe and explore the root causes of inequality in the region. It also includes policy recommendations on how to bridge inequalities to promote equal opportunities for various stakeholders. Combining rigorous research with accessible language, the book provides an overview of the challenges and opportunities ahead and will appeal to those interested in the future of the region, from researchers, academics, and students to policymakers.
Introduction to CEE 1. Characterizing Central and Eastern Europe: geopolitical delimitation, social dynamics, and economic transformation 2. The rule of law in post-Eastern Bloc countries: The challenges of the transformation of Eastern European states and civil societies Part I: Socio-Economic Inequality 3. Equal opportunities, equal treatment, and inequalities 4. Gender wage inequalities in European Union countries 5. From aging to income inequality 6. Inequalities in healthcare access. Central & Eastern Europe vs. Western EU countries 7. Life satisfaction inequalities in Central and Eastern Europe Part 2. Technical and infrastructural inequality 8. 8 Bridging the innovation divide: Challenges and opportunities in CEE 9. Challenges of energy transition from the perspective of national economies and local communities 10. Grounded by poverty. Transport-related social exclusion and transport poverty in CEE 11. In Pursuit of Clean Cities 2030-50. Ecological inequalities in major cities of Central and Eastern Europe 12. Skills over wires. Analysing digital inequalities in CEE 13. Synthesizing inequality in CEE: Conclusions, limitations, and the road ahead
Ewa Wędrowska is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland. Michał Goliński is an Associate Professor at SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland. Tymoteusz Doligalski is an Associate Professor at SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Warsaw, Poland. Aranka Ignasiak-Szulc is a Chair of the NCU Centre for Central and Eastern European Studies and an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Economic Sciences and Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Toruń, Poland.
