why is eastern europe poorer than western europe?

We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. They are languages that descend from Latin, the language of the Romans. - Definition & Laws, What Is Medicare? Here is an Eastern Europe religion map that depicts the split of Christianity after the Great Schism of 1054. When expanded it provides a list of search options that will switch the search inputs to match the current selection. 2.Standard of living in Britain was usually poor, Probably OP refers the wealth of the States, not the standard of living of the population (e.g. The reporter from the Wall Street Journal who shared it remarked that Purple areas are rich as US states. This is interesting because it shows that the wealth divide between Eastern and Western Europe existed long before the modern era. The book also reminds us that in a world where there are hostile powers, we really don't want to get rid of spending on improving military technology. Romanian is a romance language. You also have more free time to learn other skills and trades. Muslims are a minority in most parts of Europe. Eastern-Europe-map2 by CrazyPhunk self-made based upon: Image:Eastern-Europe-map2.png. The Czech Republic acted very late, for example, imposing stricter measures at the end of October, even though cases and deaths had been soaring upwards during the month. And while 7.5% of East Germans ages 55 to 64 were unemployed in 2018, the share was 5.3% among West Germans in the same age range. Eastern European death rates overtook those in the west in early October, but restrictions in the region which had eased after the first wave still lagged behind controls reintroduced in the west. Lets get back to whether people in places such as Denmark (or anywhere else in Europe) enjoy more prosperity than their American counterparts. The theology of the Eastern Orthodox faith is very similar to the theology of the Catholic religion. Cross-posted from the International Libertyblog. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. Western Europe is home to the oldest living population in the world. I wish we did live in that world, but unfortunately it's not realistic. This is a somewhat more serious subreddit compared to many others. The standard of living of the population until the mid 19th century was about the same. You want areas that produce finished products that are part of external trade systems. The continent of Europe can be divided into two regions as the western and eastern Europe. Western Europe refers to the western part of Europe. You can designate these countries on your list with an asterisk or "s" in parentheses next to them. When we turn to the second wave (starting around September and ongoing), were faced with the opposite question: why did eastern European countries not act in spite of rapidly rising infections and deaths? Although Europe represents only about 8 percent of the planet's landmass, from 1492 to 1914, Europeans conquered or colonized more than 80 percent of the entire world. And the more that the political leaders spend, the better their chances of defeating other leaders and, in the long run, of dominating the other cultures. More specifically, the Eastern orthodox Church is the branch of Christianity with the largest number of adherents in this region. Before that point, Western and Eastern Europe were relatively similar in prosperity. Total compensation, gross wages and salaries, and disposable (or after-tax) income have long been lower in the former East Germany than in the former West, according to the governments report. Amazing how so many refuse to acknowledge how climate and geography go hand and hand with a country's economic development. The former East Germany trails the former West in productivity. Cases and deaths have not been spread evenly across the region. Heres another map, concentrating just on Northern Europe. One thing is clear: eastern Europe exited the first wave at the end of June in much better shape than western Europe. The fall of the Berlin Wall 30 years ago this week brought far-reaching social and economic changes to communist East Germany, and people on both sides of the former barrier say the changes that have occurred since 1989 have had a positive influence on living standards in their country, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. Eastern Europe: Eastern Europe is comparatively less advanced regarding the economy. Thanks! The former East has a much smaller population than the former West (about 16 million people, compared with about 67 million), but its productivity is also lower when adjusted for population differences. Serbia was especially rich in mineral wealth and with trade from Adriatic to Aegean during the Middle Ages. Eastern Europe Lives And Breathes History. Today, both Judaism and the Yiddish language are scarce in this part of the world. Where Eastern Europe begins, however, is a matter of opinion. In this region may Catholics and Protestant Christians can be seen. Make a list of at least seven of the largest cities in Eastern Europe. The 2018 version of the report is available here in English. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Eastern Europe is a geographical term that refers to the easternmost countries of Europe. That being said, Ireland and the United Kingdom have the most economic freedom among EU nations, andSwitzerland would be at the top if the choice was broadened to non-EU nations in Europe. Even the Catholic Church held a different view from the eastern church. Here, we take a look at why this has happened. Americans are not stupid, and when they complain about Europe, they are complaining about Western Europeans who are richer than Eastern neighbors yet less attentive to their own needs. What led you to investigate the global conquests of western Europe? Less Diverse: Eastern European countries are less diverse. Religious: Eastern Europe is more religious than Western Europe.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'questionscity_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_8',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-questionscity_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); Poorer: Eastern European countries are poorer than Western European countries. Countries in the region imposed strict measures while being relatively mildly affected, whereas western countries waited until things got bad. Why did Eastern Europe lag behind Western Europe in terms of economic development? I think the main reason is that Europe is . I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. The spending on war gave leaders a chance to try out new weapons, new armed ships, and new tactics, and to learn from mistakes on the battlefield. Eastern Europe contained the virus so successfully in spring, it didnt experience the horrific hospital scenes seen in northern Italy, for example. Terms of Use and Privacy Policy: Legal. Personally, I would much rather see expenditures devoted to infrastructure, or scientific research, or free preschool for everybodythings that would carry big economic benefitsbut in this world, I don't think you can stop doing military research or spending money on the military. People speak languages with Slavic roots. However, over the past 20 years, most of the nations of Eastern Europe have joined the . In 1991, per-capita productivity in the former East was less than half (43%) of productivity in the former West. Here are some notable geographic features in Easter Europe: Eastern Europe is the easternmost region in Europe. 7. Per-capita gross domestic product was 32,108 in the former East German states in 2018, compared with 42,971 in the former West German states. The head of the Orthodox faith is the Patriarch of Constantinople. Eastern Europes pandemic experience has been dramatically different this autumn. David has taught Honors Physics, AP Physics, IB Physics and general science courses. For example, if I am fighting you and you figure out a better way to build an armed ship, I can imitate you. There are many different religions practiced in eastern European countries, including Christianity and Islam. Mark Perry of the American Enterprise Institute has put together some apples-to-apples data suggesting the answer is no. However, unlike other Latin people, Romanians belong to the Eastern Orthodox faith, and unlike almost all other Eastern Orthodox countries, Romanians use the Latin alphabet. There's a brain drain. And if you prefer direct measures of living standards, then data on consumption from the OECD also shows that America is considerably more prosperous. In the former East, 42% of adults say the next generation will be better off, compared with 50% in the West who say this. Western Europe: Western Europe is economically more advanced as well as prosperous. Disease can't explain, for example, the colonization of India, because people in southeast Asia had the same immunity to disease that the Europeans did. Therefore, the simplest explanation for why eastern Europe initially fared much better is that it had a head start. They were subjugated by, at war with, or were the front lines and battlefields of the austrian wars against the Ottomans for four and a half centuries. Central American Countries & Facts | People, Tribes & Culture of Central America, Central America Geography | Map, Physical Features & Examples, Physical & Human Features of Europe | Mapping the Features of Europe, Comparing Life in Different Locations in Europe, Latin America | Population, Ethnic Groups & Demographics, Physical Features of Russia & Central Asia | Map, Characteristics & Geography, Where is Latin America? There are over 500 different languages spoken in the region of eastern Europe. Among people ages 15 to 24, for example, the average unemployment rate in the former East Germany was 7.7% in 2018, compared with 4.1% in the former West. One final comment. In other words, continuing in a successful manner the integration of the Eastern European member states with Western Europe has always been and will always be the single most important thing (factor, challenge, decision, area, you name it) for the EU as a whole. He also serves on the editorial board of the Cayman Financial Review. The Polish Lithuanian commonwealth was extremely powerful and wealthy by controling the rivers and by extension farmland and trade between Baltic and Black Seas. Western Europe has the most Nobel Prize, winners. /r/History is a place for discussions about history. Feeding the YouTube algorithm. Therefore, there are a lot of contradictions in this country. I'd given it to him because the use of this technology is related to politics and fiscal systems and taxes, and as he was reading it, he noted that the book did not give the ultimate cause of why Europe in particular was so successful. | Thomas Sowell. My idea incorporates the model of a contest or a tournament where your odds of winning are higher if you spend more resources on fighting. Also Austria and Hungary drained ressources from the other areas (Bohemia being one of the few parts that was actually rather well off with a lot of industry). Judaism - Eastern European Jews once numbered in the millions; however, they were nearly wiped out during the Holocaust. (In all economic statistics in this analysis, Berlin is counted in East Germany, even though the city was divided during communism and is not directly comparable to other parts of East Germany.). The influence of the ocean. Turkish belongs to the Turkic language family. The vast majority of the region is covered by Russia, which spans roughly 40% of the continent's landmass while accounting for approximately 15% of its total . In either case, you'll still be spending money on the military and on military research. These differences between eastern and western Europe will help you understand the magnitude of these differences better than before.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'questionscity_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',109,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-questionscity_com-medrectangle-4-0'); Western and Eastern Europe are on opposite sides of the continent. We live much more better than Latin America, the Middle East, Africa or India for 2.Why is Eastern Europe Poorer than Western Europe? This is a problem in an age of common migration because the educated and talented are migrating from Eastern to Western Europe. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. copyright 2003-2023 Study.com. In 2017, the most recent year for which data is available, per-capita disposable income was 19,909 per year in the former East Germany the equivalent of about $22,500 based on the average euro-to-dollar exchange rate that year. Eastern Europe squandered its spring gains and then repeated the mistakes made by the west in spring: waiting until cases and deaths are out of control before imposing controls. With so much diversity within this region, its easy to see why people from around the globe flock here every year. Being dominated for centuries has led to lingering inequality and long-lasting effects in many formerly colonized . Love Sowell. People in the former East Germany are also less optimistic than their counterparts in the former West on a variety of measures, including whether children today will grow up to be better off financially than their parents. Romania is probably the most unusual country in this region. The reason . Roma is an Indo-European language that originated in India. Most people in western Europe speak at least two languages, one of which will be English. (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main For instance, Romanians speak a romance language. Feel free to submit interesting articles, tell us about this cool book you just read, or start a discussion about who everyone's favorite figure of minor French nobility is! After the sack of Constantinople in 1204, however, the eastern economy was permanently disrupted, and wealth began to shift westward. The Western Roman Empire was poorer. And I mean apocalyptic. Speaking of European prosperity, heres a fascinating map I saw on Twitter. Your email address will not be published. The four major religions in Eastern Europe are the Eastern Orthodox faith, Catholicism, Islam, and Judaism. Many of those that survived, emigrated to Israel or the US. So more spending would not only mean greater odds of victory over an enemy, but more rapid change in military technology. Eastern Europe was praised for being exceptional during the first wave of the pandemic. Daniel J. Mitchell is a Washington-based economistwho specializes in fiscal policy, particularly tax reform, international tax competition, and the economic burden of government spending. Christianity is the main religion in Eastern Europe. In the very successful countries, the leaders could impose very heavy taxes and spend huge sums on war. The key difference between Western and Eastern Europe is that Eastern Europe consists of countries that once belonged to the Soviet block, unlike the Western European countries. 7. No major city is near the Danube until Belgrade. I mean, as a Brit, I can see how our island had the best of it regarding no land border and access to the sea! Austria-Hungary is partially to blame. It seems that at least some countries in the region have learned their lessons. For most of the Middle Ages, the West was dirt poor, and the real money was in the east. Germans in both areas say living standards in the former East have not yet caught up with those in the former West. When its easier to travel and grow food, its easier to sell the food at a greater. Mountain ranges - Urals, Apls, Musala (Tallest Mountain range in the region, located in Bulgaria), Carpathians, Balkan Mountains, Rivers - Volga, Danube (longest), Dnieper, Oder, Don. The division of the Roman Empire occurred partially as a result of economic differences. For example, differences in economic strength could explain why the relatively richer Czech Republic waited to reintroduce restrictions (thinking it could bear the brunt of a high number of infections), but this doesnt account for the relatively poorer Romanias decision to do the same. Before World War II, there were large pockets of German speakers scattered throughout parts of Western Europe. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. And while 7.5% of East Germans ages 55 to 64 were unemployed in 2018, the share was 5.3% among West Germans in the same age range. Eastern Europe refers to the eastern part of Europe. I am glad that a more vigorous race wasn't here as they would have truly dominated the world! When it's easier to travel and grow food, it's easier to sell the food at a greater. The reformation gave way to more literacy, the Protestant work ethic, which resulted in rapid advances in the sciences and technology. Western Europe: More Catholics and Protestant Christians can be seen. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural, and socio-economic connotations. Oxford COVID-19 government response tracker, Committee Member - MNF Research Advisory Committee, PhD Scholarship - Uncle Isaac Brown Indigenous Scholarship. Many scholars believe that Moldovan is simply a dialect of Romanian, while others believe it is a separate language. However, most central and eastern European countries have been gradually converging towards western Europe countries over the past few decades after the transition to market economies, the introduction of democracy, and the formation of the European Union. Western European countries are generally considered to include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland (Republic of), Italy(although it could also be grouped with Central/Eastern European nations), Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. I'm thinking the USSR isn't the reason why the non-Balkan east is poor, so from a wider historical perspective, what's the real reason? Politics might provide a hint: the Czech Republic held regional elections in October, while Romania voted in local elections in September and is about to vote in national elections in December. The most common language spoken is Russian, followed by Polish, Ukrainian, Romanian and Bulgarian. For that to happen, the countries have to be small and close to one another. Amazing how so many refuse to acknowledge how climate and geography go hand and hand with a countrys economic development. and I thought it was because they just freed themselves from communism a few decades ago. I have been a writer and editor for more than two decades. The tendency to ignore Eastern Europe in favour of Western Europe is a holdover from the Cold War. Their situation relative to Western Europe has not become better 70 years after WWII. Spain and Portugal are often included in definitions of Western Europe despite not bordering any other country that belongs to the group. Nationalism, therefore, was an important element in the culture of Eastern Europe for a long time, sometimes leading to major wars. In 2018, the average unemployment rate was 6.9% in the six states of the former East Germany, compared with 4.8% in the 10 states of the former West Germany. 10. | Thomas Sowell, What Makes Coastal People So Different? Europe Climate Zones & Classifications | What Is the Climate In Europe? I don't discount Mr Sowell's argument, I would add a major game changer was between the eastern and the western doctrine of the Trinity. 47 West Virginia, and not too far above No. Five of the six states in the former East Germany with the exception of the city-state of Berlin had lower per-capita productivity in 2018 than the West German state with the lowest per-capita productivity, Schleswig-Holstein. The largest country by area in eastern Europe is Russia with 677 thousand square miles. But exploring Soviet-era Eastern Europe is not even half the story. Why Did Western Europe Dominate the Globe? Some argued that this was because of economics: that eastern European countries locked down early because they feared their economies would not be able to handle many people getting sick. The economic model then connected that spending to changes in military technology. Many theories purport to explain how the West became dominant. Through this article, let us examine the differences further. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, except for material where copyright is reserved by a party other than FEE. This is why Eastern Europe, in general, is poorer than countries in Western, Central, and Northern Europe. For example, how did states get the ability to impose heavy taxes? Some argued that this was because of economics: that eastern European countries locked down early because they feared their economies would . A thousand years ago, no one would have ever expected that result, for at that point western Europe was hopelessly backward. These are the countries that are in Eastern Europe: Russia (Partly in Asia). In addition to historic sites, Western Europe also houses some of the most beautiful cities on earth with London being one such place. It is related to Italian, Spanish, French and Portuguese. They were part of large empires, such as the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian empires. In 1914, really only China, Japan, and the Ottoman Empire had escaped becoming European colonies. From the Eiffel Tower in Paris to The Great Wall Of China, these landmarks are instantly recognizable and attract millions of visitors each year. The Netherlands is the country with the most time off in the world. Cultural Syncretism Definition & Examples | What is Religious Syncretism? (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons. Europe's economic crisis has thrown into relief the economic disparity between the Continent's richer, northern half and its poorer . Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The Western European region is very much advanced in its economy. Daily new COVID-19 deaths per million inhabitants, second wave, eastern Europe. Around three-quarters of people in the former East Germany (74%) and around two-thirds of those in the former West (66%) say the East still has not achieved the same living standards as the West, according to the Centers recent survey, which was conducted among representative samples of adults in both areas as part of a larger study of Europe. You dont become wealthy by attacking and taking over subsistence farmers. Its also a sign of prosperity that, when they do earn American dollars, foreigners often choose to invest those funds in the American economy (remember, the necessary flip side of a trade deficit is a capital surplus). Seldom do you hear an average American complain about Poland or Estonia for not spending enough into defending Europebecause those countries, despite being . But that does not mean the former East and West Germany are on equal economic footing today. None of this suggests that policy in America is ideal (it isnt) or that European nations are failures (they still rank among the wealthiest places on the planet). A heretical Christian sect, known as the Hussites (named after Jan Huss), challenged the Catholic Church in part of Eastern Europe during the early 15th century, but they were stamped out by the Catholic political elite. The terrible assumption you have made so far is Eastern Europe was always poor. You also have more free time to learn other skills and trades. Our World in Data COVID-19 Dataset. Please do not edit the piece, ensure that you attribute the author and mention that this article was originally published on FEE.org, Living Standards Are Markedly Higher in the United States, are doomed bydemographics tofiscal chaos, America should copy their expansive welfare states. Both regions have a history of being ruled by powerful empires that brought change to the area. See here for the complete series: I love listening to Dr. Sowell's wonderful explanations for everything. The rest of Europe at that time was really no wealthier than China, the Middle East, or South Asia. Just take any economic, social map and overlay it with the iron curtain map and you will understand what it's actually about. Conclusion paragraph: The differences between Eastern and Western Europe are vast, but there is one important similarity. Create a poster, chart, or some other type of graphic organizer that lists and provides statistics for the religions of Eastern Europe. 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Answer (1 of 3): The main reason is the Atlantic conveyor. Productivity in the East, in other words, was 75% of productivity in the West on a per-capita basis. Maybe we should remind him that Mexico and China, as US states, would both be far below our poorest state Mississippi by 51% and 62% respectively for GDP per capita; and Japan would be barely above our poorest state Mississippi. Authors compilation. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. Usually, when this question is asked, the response is that WWII and the Cold War ruined Eastern Europe, or that the agricultural and industrial revolutions began in Britain and not in Eastern Europe. Ukraine was the home and originator of "Rus" civilization pre-Mongol conquest with Kiev being a strong city when Moscow was a backwater. You have been on the Caltech faculty for more than 30 years. Over the years I've been interested in a number of different things, and this new work puts together a lot of bits of my research. Many East German businesses are part of western German or foreign corporations.. 55 chapters | What countries make up Eastern Europe? When you go back that far, you need to use to use a proxy for human capital. What explains this reluctance to reintroduce restrictions? QuotidianPain 2 yr. ago I don't think Atlantic trade is the sole reason though. Has Eastern Europe always been poorer than Western Europe, and if so, why? Belgiums King Philippe is also Queen Mathildes husband. Its easternmost border is the Ural mountains. Breathtaking nature Last, but definitely not least, nature in Eastern Europe is stunning. crochet cardigan size chart on carolina thunderbirds salary; why is eastern europe poorer than western europe? Eastern Europe is generally poorer than Western Europe. The Chinese invented gunpowder, but Hoffman, whose work applies economic theory to historical contexts, argues that certain political and economic circumstances allowed the Europeans to advance gunpowder technology at an unprecedented rateallowing a relatively small number of people to quickly take over much of the rest of the globe. Yes, there are lots of conventional explanationsindustrialization, for examplebut on closer inspection they all fall apart. 1615 L St. NW, Suite 800Washington, DC 20036USA One big factor that's important to the advancement of any defense technology is how much money a political leader can spend. succeed. 6. That was a really great question and it got me interested. The economy is comparatively lower and less stable than in Western Europe. Hungarian is a Finno-Ugric language that is distantly related to Finnish and Estonian. Language spoken in most eastern European countries includes Russian and Ukrainian. Luckily, this blog post will help you to understand some of the differences between these two parts of Europe. Look again at the second graph above. Long-run growth matters. This One Major Factor Makes Germany Richer Than Italy.