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Education-to-Work Transitions in Former Communist Countries after 30-Plus Years of Transformation

Author

Listed:
  • Ken Roberts

    (Law and Social Justice Building, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZA, UK)

  • Maria-Carmen Pantea

    (Department of Social Work, Universitatea ‘Babeș-Bolyai’, RO-400604 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Dan-Cristian Dabija

    (Department of Marketing, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Universitatea ‘Babeș-Bolyai’, RO-400591 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

Abstract

This paper reviews how young people’s education-to-work transitions have changed since 1989 in former communist countries that have subsequently become full members of the European Union (EU). The sudden collapse of the command economies led to an equally abrupt breakdown in earlier routes into working life. Subsequently, the new independent states have reconstructed their education and training, and their market economies have developed. They now exhibit similar variations in rates of youth unemployment, progression through higher education, and mixtures of academic and vocational secondary education as older EU member states. However, there are features that continue to set all ex-communist countries apart, irrespective of whether they have become full EU members. These are low local rates of pay and westward migration. Its new member states have joined the Southern countries in a European periphery. Yet, there may be sufficient winners in the European core and periphery to keep Europe united.

Suggested Citation

  • Ken Roberts & Maria-Carmen Pantea & Dan-Cristian Dabija, 2023. "Education-to-Work Transitions in Former Communist Countries after 30-Plus Years of Transformation," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:13:y:2023:i:1:p:25-:d:1308104
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Mihaly Simai, 2006. "Poverty and Inequality in Eastern Europe and the CIS Transition Economies," Working Papers 17, United Nations, Department of Economics and Social Affairs.
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