Lithuania's unemployment offices (darbo birža) are only getting busier as unemployment, already nearly at 20 percent, continues to rise in spite of improving macro-economic trends.
VILNIUS — A recent survey shows that 89 percent of Lithuanians think the situation in the country is getting worse for them.
After two years of crisis, most people have seen their wages fall along with their living standard. Less people now go on holidays and citizens in the country are buying less goods.
The Baltijos Tyrimai survey, carried out May 26-31 showed only 10 percent of respondents thought the country is turning for the better, while one percent had no opinion.
On average, those who said the country was improving were young people under 30 with a higher education, right-wing political views and with a family income of more than 2,000 litai (€580).
The same survey asked residents if they thought the democratic systems in the country were working adequately. Some 72 percent of respondents said they were unhappy. One-fifth said they were happy and 8 percent had no idea.
Faith in democratic systems declined 5 percent year on year, the same survey last year showed. The most dissatisfied with the democratic state of Lithuania were unemployed workers and pensioners. The most satisfied were students.
Losing faith in the Singing Revolution?
Those survey results echo a Pew Research poll done in November, which showed that since 1991 support for the change from the authoritarian communist regime of the U.S.S.R. to democracy and capitalism in Lithuania has declined by 20 percent and 26 percent, respectively.
The Pew Research poll results showed that among those older than 65, Lithuanian support for the change to capitalism is 41 percent and multi-party democracy is 43 percent. Meanwhile for other age groups the number is barely over 50 percent. In 1991 over 70 percent supported the switch to democracy and capitalism.
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you really have to realize your own words from the truth… actual unemployment hovers at 15% (according to WSJ and LR), OR less… And when you consider the actually sizable number of people employed in the black/grey economy, there is not any wonder that people certainly aren’t starving, or homeless in Lithuania, not to mention that MOST people employed in the private sector are rewarded RICHLY with their untaxed “vokes” every month.
Yes, older people are angry, because they are suffering the most as pensioners.
Planned tax increases that will derive revenues from second homes, second cars, garages, etc., are all coming down, and fast…. even a “parking tax” which will assign placards by address, resulting in more declared incomes from rentals, as well as punitive revenues on second autos are planned.
Please, don’t lump together “democracy” and “capitalism,” as the two are NOT mutual. Believe me, in Lithuanian now, as in socialist times, “a handshake and a smile” still get you A LOT.
Dear Maing,
Thanks for your interest in Baltic Reports and your frequent posts.
All employment (http://www.stat.gov.lt/en/news/view/?id=8612&PHPSESSID=cb4cc46fefab5052ec0bfd39a1da2c4c) and economic statistics from this article are all obtained from Statistics Lithuania, and of course the surveys mentioned in the article speak for themselves. Like any survey, in actuality it represents only the view of the participants, but given the results we thought this was worthy of covering.
As for the gray market, certainly I would agree with you that has a significant presence in the Lithuanian economy, but exact figures on that of course can only be estimated.
Best regards,
Nathan Greenhalgh
Editor
Baltic Reports