Preferred forms of market economy among social classes in Serbia analysis of WVS/EVS data 1996-2008

Abstract

Paper analyses preferred forms of market economy among classes in Serbia, based on the extent to which their members accept different characteristics of market economy. It contributes to the analysis of value orientations of classes in Serbia, though in somewhat different interpretative framework, on different data and with different specification of market economy characteristics. Rejection of liberal market economy is interpreted as possible preference for a different form of market economy, not necessarily as acceptance of redistributive statism, characterizing socialist economy. Analysis is conducted on the level of attitudes, in order to capture the influence of changeable situational factors, in addition to influence of deeper and stable value dispositions. Preferences for particular forms of market economy and their change is analysed on WVS/EVS data, from 1996. to 2008. By the means of factor analysis two dimensions are extracted determining the extent of acceptance of competition and private property, on the one side, and of individual responsibility for ones wellbeing and resulting inequality of income (without state redistribution), on the other. The two dimensions define the space within which classes position themselves regarding their preferences for liberal market economy, social market economy, market socialism and overall rejection of market economy.