Dohnali jsme Západ? 20 let sbližování pohledem mzdové úrovně
Have we catched up with the West? 20 years of Convergence in Wage Levels

Author(s): Silke Maes
Subject(s): EU-Approach / EU-Accession / EU-Development, Socio-Economic Research
Published by: EUROPEUM - Institut pro evropskou politiku
Keywords: EU Living standards;
Summary/Abstract: This year, the EU marks the anniversary of the largest wave of enlargement in history, when the Czech Republic joined the Union along with nine other Central and Eastern European countries. One of the main promises associated with enlargement was that the new member states would catch up with Western Europe in living standards. This was expected to happen thanks to entry into the single internal market, which would allow for the full use of the free movement of goods, services, workers and capital. Now, twenty years later, despite very strong growth and convergence, none of the Eastern European countries has reached the European Union average. Wages in particular remain significantly below the EU average, even compared to GDP growth. The failure to fulfil the central promise of EU accession to date is thus leading to disappointment and fuelling discontent and Eurosceptic attitudes.

• Details
• Contents