A Convergence of Attitudes? Perceptions of Social Inequality and Work in Post-communist and Traditional European Market Economies

Economic and governmental reforms change public opinion and behaviour. Using the International Social Survey, this paper analyses attitudes to social inequality and work orientations in three European post-communist countries reported immediately after the introduction of market economies (in and around 1990) and in more recent years (up to 2005). The emerging patterns are compared with those reported in Western European market economies. The research finds evidence of partial and temporary alignments of social attitudes in the Eastern and Western countries, but at no point was there a clear East-West divide.