Who Is Poor in the Czech Republic? The Changing Structure and Faces of Poverty after 1989

Abstract

The paper provides a summary of evidence on development of poverty in Czech Republic since 1989. First, new sources of poverty after 1989 and new measures introduced to prevent or combat it are described. Second, relative ease with which it is possible to leave labour force and impact of departures on household income is considered. Third, a variety of measurements that reveal different faces of poverty, comparing so-called objective and subjective indicators, are presented. Fourth, working are examined and compared with non-working poor. As a comparison of Microcensus data demonstrates, more change occurred in composition than in amount of poverty. Before 1989, poverty was caused mainly by demographic factors. In contrast, unemployment became strongest factor of poverty under market economy. This largely manifested itself after 1997, when there was a rapid increase in unemployment in Czech Republic and numbers for long-term unemployed grew even faster. Simultaneously, problem of the working poor appeared, but it is far less acute in Czech Republic than in other EU countries. In conclusion, drawing sociology more into poverty research is stressed as a necessity.