Gender Inequality in the Eastern European Labour Market

Under communism there was, in the countries of Eastern Europe, a high level of gender equality in the labour market, particularly in terms of high participation rates by women. The transition from communism has upset this situation, with different impacts in the different countries. This book presents a comprehensive overview of gender and the labour market since the fall of communism in a wide range of Eastern European countries. Each country chapter describes the nature of inequality in the particular country, and goes on to examine the factors responsible for this, including government policies, changing social attitudes, levels of educational attainment and the impact of motherhood. Overall, the book provides an interesting comparison to the situation in Western developed countries, outlining differences and similarities. No one single Eastern European model emerges while, as in Western developed countries, a range of experiences and trends is the norm.

Giovanni Razzu is Professor of Economics of Public Policy at the University of Reading, UK.

Prologue 1. The Wider Context Giovanni Razzu 2. Bulgaria Vasil Tzanov 3. The Czech Republic Lenka Filipova and Mariola Pytlikova 4. East Germany Heike Trappe 5. Estonia Rein Vöörmann and Jelena Helemäe 6. Hungary Eva Fodor 7. Lithuania Boguslavas Gruzeyskis and Vida Kanopiene 8. Poland Jan Baran, Roma Keister, Piotr Lewandowski, Iga Magda 9. Romania Giovanni Razzu 10. Slovenia Jana Javornik Epilogue